James the Fatalist and His Master, Volume 2

Wurz James and his Master are eu-joying repose, I am going to discharge my promise by the history of the man in the prisen who was scraping upon the dass, or rather of his comrade, Mr. The third, said he to me, is the steward of a family of rank. , He had “lens in love with the wife of a pastry-cook, in the street of the University. The pastry-cook was a simple fellow, who paid more attention to his oven than to the conduct of his wife. If his jealousy did not incommode our lovers they were at least embarrassed by his as- Siduity. What did they . do to free themselves from this constraint? The Steward presented to his master a petition, 1n which the pastry-cook was represented as a man of bad morals, a drunkard, who was constantly in the tavern, a brute who beat his wife, the most virtuous and most unfortunate of women. Upon this petition he obtained Aa! lettre-de-cachet, and this lettre-de-the husband, was put into the hands of which disposed of the liberty of an exempt to be executed without delay. It happened, by accident, that this ex- * was a friend of the pastry-cook. [GOL * They were accustomed to go now and then to the wine merchant. 1 he pastry-cock furnished the tarts, and the exempt paid the bottle. The latter, authorised by the lettre. de- cachet, passed before the pastry-cook’ s door, and made him their usual signals. As they were cating the tarts, and moistening them with” wine, the exempt asked his companion how, his, trade went Very well it, he had no unpleasant affair upon | his hands? —None.—If he had no enemies?—He lived with his hs his neighbours his wife 18 friendship and in peace.— Whence then can proceed, added the exempt, the order I have to arrest you? If I did my duty I should seize you by the collar, there would be a coach in waiting, and 1 should conduẽt you to 15 place appointed by this lertre- detuchet Take and read it... The pastry-cook read and turned pale. The exempt aid to him: courage, let us only consider what is best to be done for my security and for yours. Who frequents yout house Nobody. Vour wife is a coquet and is hatidsome. —1 allo w her todo 45 che pleases. Has no body any design upon her! No, by my Faith; if it bt Not u cetrain steward, who comes some-rites and $queezes her Hands and re- Þefts to her idle taff; but it is in my vhop, in ptesence of myself and my boys, and 1 belleve that nothing passes between them wich- is Hot perfect ly consistent with virtue and honour. Tou are a simp ole fellow That is very Possible, but he best tung a man can d d is to believe kis Wife honest, and thus Act. —And to whom” dbes this Steward belong?—To M. W Saint Flotenin: — And from what. offiess do you think this /ettre-de-cachet has issued From the offices of M. de St. Flgrentin per-baps. You are right. What! eat m pastry, kiss my wife, and imprison me this is too black; I cannot believe it — You are a simple fellow! How have you found your wife for some days? Rather melancholy than gay.—And how long is it since you saw the Steward? Yesterday, I believe; yes, it was yesterday. Did you observe anything?—lam not muchaddidted to make observations, but I thought that when going away they made signs with their heads, one seeming to say yes, the ather no. Which of them seemed to say yes? — The steward. They are either innocent or they are accomplices. Hearken, my friend, dan’t return to your house, aave — same place of geurity in the Temple, in the Abbaye, or wherever you think proper; and, in the mean time, allow me to manage: above all things, however, remember well . . . Not to make my appearance, and to be secret.