Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: August 26, 2024
When Laguitte arrived Burle was in his room, so it was the old lady who received the major. The latter, after announcing that he had come to have a plate of soup with them, added, lowering his voice: "Well, how goes it?" "It is all right," answered the old lady. "Nothing queer?" "Absolutely nothing. Never away in bed at nine and looking quite happy."
The domino players were indignant. "Let's cut it," shouted Laguitte, and he pushed Burle on the pavement. "If I remained I should smash everyone in the place." To cross the square they had to wade up to their ankles in mud. The rain, driven by the wind, poured off their faces.
"Two years more and you would be entitled to your full pension." But again did Laguitte cut him short, saying gruffly, "That is my own affair." "Oh, certainly! Well, I will send in your resignation, and as soon as it is accepted I will fix a day for the duel." The unexpected turn that events had taken startled the regiment.
What resolution had they come to, he asked, as he could not authorize them to fight? This same question had occupied the whole regiment for the last twenty-four hours. Apologies were unacceptable on account of the blow, but as Laguitte was almost unable to stand, it was hoped that, should the colonel insist upon it, some reconciliation might be patched up.
She almost felt the gust of the expected blow, and then, white with rage, she joined Phrosine in the outer room. When the two men were alone Major Laguitte walked up to Burle, looked at him and, slightly stooping, yelled into his face these two words: "You pig!" The captain, quite dazed, endeavored to retort, but he had not time to do so. "Silence!" resumed the major.
"What a snout!" said Laguitte, laughing, when the maid had again left the room to fetch the cruets. "Never mind," said Burle carelessly, "she is very obliging and does all one asks her. She suits us well enough as a scullion." The dinner was very pleasant. It consisted of boiled beef and mutton hash.
Burle shuddered, pushing the grog away, while Melanie stepped angrily in front of him as if to shield him with her portly figure, but Laguitte looked at her with that quiet, resolute expression well known to women who are familiar with bodily chastisement. "Leave us," he said curtly. She hesitated for the space of a second.
As the lad was so devoted to the military profession, it was necessary that he should be able to enter Saint-Cyr with his head erect. When Mme Burle took up the lamp to show the major out, she passed the door of the captain's room, and stopped short, surprised to see the key outside, which was a most unusual occurrence. "Do go in," she said to Laguitte; "it is bad for him to sleep so much."
Nothing was more distasteful to him than the inspection of a number of ledgers, and as long as Burle kept steady, he Laguitte could smoke his pipe in peace and sign the books in all confidence. However, he continued to keep one eye open for a little while longer and found the receipts genuine, the entries correct, the columns admirably balanced.
And before he could interpose she had opened the door and stood transfixed on finding the room empty. Laguitte turned crimson and looked so foolish that she suddenly understood everything, enlightened by the sudden recollection of several little incidents to which she had previously attached no importance. "You knew it you knew it!" she stammered. "Why was I not told? Oh, my God, to think of it!
Word Of The Day
Others Looking