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Updated: June 12, 2025
There were no lanterns inside the Luxembourg gardens. When we reached the spot light streamed from many of the windows of the palace, but it did not penetrate the far recesses of the gardens, behind the tall hedges and the summer houses. I motioned Jacques Haret to the farthest corner, behind a grove of dwarf cedars.
For all of Madame Riano's sharpness, she had not recognized the clothes as belonging to Gaston. Jacques Haret, however, replied with a grin: "I borrowed them, Madame, when I was last in Brabant from your old friend, the Bishop of Louvain. The old gentleman kept this costume for occasions when he goes to Brussels incog. and plays Harun-al-Rashid."
Monsieur Voltaire rose, his glorious eyes flashing with mirth and pleasure, for he loved the great, he loved the flattery of women, and he knew that only ladies of the highest quality would dare to visit him in that manner. Gaston Cheverny and Jacques Haret rose, too, and all bowed profoundly to the newcomers.
I found my young friend with another cavalier, some years older than himself a regular petit-maître, Bellegarde by name, insipid beyond words, and very fretful because Gaston Cheverny had insisted on fighting at such a time. Jacques Haret went through the affair with the most killing gravity. Monsieur Bellegarde asked if an accommodation was possible.
Jacques was good-humoredly polite to Mademoiselle Francezka, who was a little embarrassed in his company. The two Chevernys regarded him with the tolerance of youth for an entertaining fellow, and he seemed to have neither grudge nor envy of Regnard Cheverny's possession of Castle Haret.
However, I promised him and myself, too, that if ever I met Jacques Haret, if it were at the gates of hell, or if it were in the presence of St. Peter, I would have one good blow at him. Then the old man's grief took on the aspect of strong despair. I walked with him through the fields to the château of Capello, for he was not really able to go alone.
It was difficult to be serious with Jacques Haret, although his crimes were serious enough, of which his behavior to poor old Peter and the unfortunate Lisa were crimes in every sense. Nevertheless, I made him take off his coat, which he did, grumbling excessively. And in the shadow of the cedars I gave him as sound a beating as any man ever got on this planet.
I am thinking, if I am too friendly they will remember my origin and think me impudent and if I be not friendly enough, I fear I am thought to forget whence I sprang. But Jacques Haret and men like him are at their ease with kings and beggars alike. There is certainly something in being born to ride in a coach, even if the coach be gambled away or drunk up.
The old serving-man's devotion to Jacques Haret was touching. "Sometimes it is years that I do not see him," he said to me; "but always, when I do, it is the same greeting 'Well, Peter, my man, here is your old master's son, and a real embrace, such as gentlefolk give each other." "And if you happen to have any money about you, do you not hand it over to Jacques Haret?" I asked.
Besides, I ever loved the English, and the English and Austrians will be allied for all of our time. I shall not yet sell Castle Haret " here he paused a minute; I thought I knew why he would not sell all his landed possessions, which were so very convenient to the château of Capello "but it depends on events whether I shall occupy it permanently or not."
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