Page:Once a Week Volume V.djvu/452

 . 12, 1861.] to have a white hand covered with rings on his waistcoat pocket, the region generally assigned to the heart.

“My faith, how his figure is fine!” said the avocat, whose own shortness of stature made his life a burden to him.

“In effect, he has an air noble,” added the lean Count.

“Hang him!” repeated the Englishman, with fervour. For which, the Count, mistaking it for a burst of hearty British admiration, made him a low bow, on the part of the stranger.

“Sir,” said the Count, “you do us honour. “I revere the Britons, who are diamonds covered with dust—aha! I would say, rough diamonds. But, behold, Madame is placed.”

The most honourable seat had been given to Madame; the officer and the comptroller exerting all their powers to entertain her, while the receiver of taxes endeavoured humbly to pay his court agreeably to the Governor, and the avocat sighed for an opportunity of making himself heard.

The most exquisite wines, and the choicest morsels, were called in a self-denying manner, and placed before the strangers. A patépâté [sic], which the unfortunate Englishman had been about to consume, was politely confiscated for Madame, who received it with an affable smile; and the Count, eyeing his favourite confiture with the loving devotion of one who sacrifices his dearest treasure, relinquished it with a sigh of profound emotion.

“What delicacy!” murmured the Count, casting up his eyes in the direction of Madame and the confiture. “What exquisite grace and freshness! Madame accepts! I am all enraptured!”

The appetite of Monsieur the Governor was most gratifying, since he rejected none of the offered dainties; and while he received the attentions showered upon him with proper dignity, as his due, he condescended now and then to exchange with Madame a smile of pleasure, or a gesture of cordial approval.

The receiver of taxes, however, felt uncomfortable. He could scarcely extract a word from Monsieur the Governor, and being ignorant of his