Page:The red and the black (1916).djvu/275

Rh The marquis entered, "What are you doing here, M. Tanbeau?" he said severely to the new-comer.

"I thought—" answered the young man, with a base smile.

"No, monsieur, you thought nothing of the kind. This is a try-on, but it is an unfortunate one."

Young Tanbeau got up in a rage and disappeared. He was a nephew of the academician who was a friend of Madame de la Mole, and intended to take up the profession of letters. The academician had induced the marquis to take him as a secretary. Tanbeau used to work in a separate room, but having heard of the favour that was vouchsafed to Julien he wished to share it, and he had gone this morning and established his desk in the library.

At four o'clock Julien ventured, after a little hesitation, to present himself to Count Norbert. The latter was on the point of going riding, and being a man of perfect politeness felt embarrassed.

"I think," he said to Julien, "that you had better go to the riding school, and after a few weeks, I shall be charmed to ride with you."

"I should like to have the honour of thanking you for the kindness which you have shewn me. Believe me, monsieur," added Julien very seriously, "that I appreciate all I owe you. If your horse has not been hurt by the reason of my clumsiness of yesterday, and if it is free I should like to ride it this afternoon."

"Well, upon my word, my dear Sorel, you do so at your own risk and peril; kindly assume that I have put forth all the objections required by prudence. As a matter of fact it is four o'clock, we have no time to lose."

As soon as Julien was on horseback, he said to the young count, "What must one do not to fall off?"

"Lots of things," answered Norbert, bursting into laughter. "Keep your body back for instance."

Julien put his horse to the trot. They were at the Place Louis XVI.

"Oh, you foolhardy youngster," said Norbert "there are too many carriages here, and they are driven by careless drivers into the bargain. Once you are on the ground their tilburies will run over your body, they will not risk spoiling their horses' mouths by pulling up short."