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He knew the company that awaited him there the wildest and most dissolute gallants of the city and garrison were usually assembled there at this hour. The famous old hostelry was kept by Master Menut, a burly Breton who prided himself on keeping everything full and plenty about his house tables full, tankards full, guests full, and himself very full.
Our set are having a gala night of it, and must be musical as the frogs of Beauport by this hour! Come along!" De Pean again took his arm. He was not repelled this time. "I don't care where I go, De Pean!" replied he, forgetting his dislike to this man, and submitting to his guidance, the Taverne de Menut was just the place for him to rush into and drown his disappointment in wine.
After an hour's roystering at the Fleur-de-Lis the party of gentlemen returned to the Taverne de Menut a good deal more unsteady and more obstreperous than when they came. They left Master Pothier seated in his chair, drunk as Bacchus, and every one of the rest of his companions blind as Bartemy. The gentlemen, on their return to the Taverne de Menut, found De Pean in a rage.
She was sorry, yet flattered, at Lizette's account of his conduct at the Taverne de Menut; for, although pleased to think that Le Gardeur loved her to the point of self-destruction, she honestly pitied him, and felt, or thought she felt, that she could sacrifice anything except herself for his sake. Angelique pondered in her own strange, fitful way over Le Gardeur.
"Do not go out to-day, brother, I want you so particularly to stay with me to-day," said Amelie de Repentigny, with a gentle, pleading voice. "Aunt has resolved to return to Tilly to-morrow; I need your help to arrange these papers, and anyway, I want your company, brother," added she, smiling. Le Gardeur sat feverish, nervous, and ill after his wild night spent at the Taverne de Menut.
De Pean watched with malign satisfaction the progress of Le Gardeur's intoxication. If he seemed to flag, he challenged him afresh to drink to better fortune; and when he lost the stakes, to drink again to spite ill luck. But let a veil be dropped over the wild doings of the Taverne de Menut.
They felt a pleasure in this sort of protest against the extreme refinement of society, just as the collegians of Oxford, trained beyond their natural capacity in morals, love to fall into slang and, like Prince Hal, talk to every tinker in his own tongue. De Pean and Le Gardeur were welcomed with open arms at the Taverne de Menut. A dozen brimming glasses were offered them on every side.
Mine host of the Taverne de Menut combatted this opinion of the goodness of the liquors at the Fleur-de-Lis. His brandy had paid the King's duties, and bore the stamp of the Grand Company, he said; and he appealed to every gentleman present on the goodness of his liquors. Cadet and the rest took another round of it to please the landlord, and sallied out with no little noise and confusion.
He hastened to the Taverne de Menut, and in haughty defiance of De Pean, with whom he had high words, he got the unfortunate Le Gardeur away, placed him in a carriage, and took him home, receiving from Amelie such sweet and sincere thanks as he thought a life's service could scarcely have deserved.
March either before or after me, only don't go with me, De Pean; I am taking the shortest cuts to get to the end of it, and want no one with me." Le Gardeur walked doggedly on; but De Pean would not be shaken off. He suspected what had happened. "The shortest cut I know is by the Taverne de Menut, where I am going now," said he, "and I should like your company, Le Gardeur!
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