Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 20, 2025
Peyrolles nodded, looking askance at him, and wishing that destiny had not compelled him to make use of such an over-familiar agent, and the precious pair went over the bridge together and disappeared from the neighborhood of the little Inn, and the spirit of solitude seemed again to brood over the locality. But it was not suffered to brood for very long.
Æsop yawned on the conclusion of the bargain. "Curse me if I see why he wants the child when he has got the mother." Peyrolles again neared, and spoke with a lowered voice: "I can be frank with you, master Æsop?" "It's the best plan," Æsop growled. Peyrolles prepared to be frank.
Gonzague started a little as he suddenly became aware of the hunchback's presence. The hunchback bowed. "Is your highness content with the night's work?" "So far, yes," Gonzague replied. "We have got the girl and got the papers safe in my palace." "Ah! And Lagardere?" the hunchback asked. Gonzague answered: "Peyrolles is looking for him, with six of the best swords in Paris."
"Bah!" he said to himself; "it is my word against that of an adventurer who has hidden for twenty years." Peyrolles, pushing his way through the crowd and peering to right and left, caught sight of his master and hurriedly joined him. "Well," said Gonzague, "have you found the girl?" Peyrolles made a gesture of despair. "We have searched Paris without success. Not a sign of her, nor of him."
By this time Staupitz and the others had resumed their seats and were staring fixedly at Peyrolles, something to that worthy personage's embarrassment. Staupitz having said his say, dropped into silence, and Cocardasse leaned forward, asserting himself.
When the last of them had crossed the bridge and was far away upon the road to Neuilly, a man came to the door of the Inn and looked thoughtfully after them. The man was clad in black from head to foot, and his body was heavily bowed. As he moved slowly across the grass, Peyrolles hastened towards him, seeming to recognize him.
"I was looking for you, Master Æsop," he cried; "I have good news for you." The hunchback answered, quietly: "Good news is always welcome." And to the ears of Peyrolles the voice was the voice of Æsop, and to the eyes of Peyrolles the form and the face of the speaker were the form and the face of Æsop.
As Cocardasse spoke these words, Peyrolles, now thoroughly alarmed and irritated, gave Cocardasse a glance that ought to have withered him, but Cocardasse was not withered, and smiled banteringly at his employer. "Fellow," Peyrolles said, "you are inquisitive."
He had always held Monsieur Peyrolles in considerable respect, a respect that had been greatly shaken by Cocardasse's audacious and insolent treatment of the satellite of Gonzague. Now the bravo seemed ready to resent receiving an order from his employer's go-between. Peyrolles prudently took no notice of his sullenness. "Good-evening, gentlemen," he said, and walked towards the door.
He put up his hand, and whispered behind it cautiously: "The married life of the Prince de Gonzague and the widow of Nevers has not been ideally happy." Æsop grinned at him in derision. "You surprise me!" he commented, ironically. Peyrolles went on: "The marriage is only a marriage in name. What arguments succeeded in persuading so young a widow to marry again so soon I do not, of course, know."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking