"You hear, Francois; prepare the full black costume.--Bless my soul! you are brilliant, Monsieur Férulus! You have some very fine buttons there!"
"Are they not, monseigneur? They descended to me from my father's granduncle, who wore them in a minuet which he danced before Madame de Maintenon; you can understand how highly I prize them; they are the most precious heritage which my ancestors have left to me! I use them only on great occasions; for example, at my distribution of prizes, I give them and nothing else to my pupils--but on condition that they bring them back to me the next day."
"And what is this bunch of ribbons which you have on each shoulder?"
"That is a mark of dignity, monseigneur; it means that I am worthy to eat at your table with the noblest society. The pages used to wear them under King Dagobert."
"In that case you did very well to put them on.--But what is the matter with you, Monsieur Férulus? You look to me very pale this morning."
"Monseigneur, it is because--I had my bed warmed----"
"The tower in which I lodge is very damp, monseigneur; however, it did not succeed so well as I hoped; I trust that breakfast will make me feel better. But they have just brought your servants' livery; it is superb--dark green, with apricot trousers and orange trimmings."
"Yes, that is my idea; can you see it at a distance?"
"At a great distance, monseigneur. I must tell you, however, that that clown of an Olitor--I mean your gardener--refuses to wear it, on the pretext that it makes him look like a parrot."
"That rascal is always rebelling about something! François, go to him and order him in my name to put on his livery under penalty of being turned out of my garden."
Alfred and Edouard were also busying themselves with their toilet; although they did not, like the master of the house, propose to make conquests, the two young Parisians desired to appear to advantage before the large company which was to assemble at the château; and then too, one is never sorry to please, even when one has no desire to love.
Everything was arranged for the festivities. Two greased poles had been set up in the courtyard, at the top of which were fastened the _Syntax_ and the _Rudiments_. The colored lanterns were strung in the garden paths; the arena was arranged for the gymnastic sports; and the three musicians who were to compose the orchestra, the leader being blind, had arrived, armed with two violins and a clarinet. The servants ran hither and thither in the midst of it all, and the new livery did in fact give them some resemblance to the birds of which Vincent had spoken. However, in order to avoid dismissal, the gardener had made up his mind to put on his costume with the rest; Monsieur Férulus was careful always to stand in the sun, in order to make his buttons shine more brightly.