...
He thought it witty to behave so. His hateful, stupid mind flattered
itself on being original. Therefore as the half-hour began to strike
he was pompously ushered in, watch in hand.
"I am here, you see, to the tick," he said noisily, kissing the
forehead his goddaughter pressed forward to him. Then, turning to the
waiter, "You can serve without delay," he said. "I like my food hot."
Mlle. Frahender, although she was well acquainted with the abrupt ways
of the godfather, frowned at him with disapprobation. Nevertheless,
thanks to Maurice, who made a point of laughing at everything Adhemar
said, they had a gay luncheon, and Adhemar himself, appreciating the
consideration shown for his palate, cast aside his ill humour and
enjoyed with full indulgence the present hour, the savoury food and
the plentiful wine.
At the end of the meal he examined the room. "On my word, my girl,
they have given you the royal suite: that must come pretty expensive."
"M. Darbois," said Jean Perliez, "gave me a very liberal sum of money,
with instructions to spare nothing for our little queen."
"There you have it, if that is not the exaggeration of a lover! Little
Queen! You are pouring poison in continuous doses into this little
head, which is already full of nonsense. Esperance will end by taking
herself seriously; she is already far too dictatorial for a child of
seventeen." He added to himself, "She must be corrected, I will do it
myself!"
Esperance raised her eyelids, and her clear blue eyes seemed to pierce
the eyeballs of the foolish blunderer, until he fluttered his lashes
and closed his eyes to escape the powerful silent denial of his
authority.
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