登陆注册
15459300000022

第22章 CHAPTER VI(3)

"In God's name, what means all this, Master Pothier?" exclaimed Philibert, as they hastily dismounted and, tying their horses to a tree, entered the broad walk that led to the terrace.

"That concert going on, your Honor?"--Master Pothier shook his head to express disapproval, and smiled to express his inborn sympathy with feasting and good-fellowship--"that, your Honor, is the heel of the hunt, the hanging up of the antlers of the stag by the gay chasseurs who are visiting the Intendant!"

"A hunting party, you mean? To think that men could stand such brutishness, even to please the Intendant!"

"Stand! your Honor. I wager my gown that most of the chasseurs are lying under the table by this time, although by the noise they make it must be allowed there are some burly fellows upon their legs yet, who keep the wine flowing like the cow of Montmorency."

"'Tis horrible! 'tis damnable!" Philibert grew pale with passion and struck his thigh with his palm, as was his wont when very angry.

"Rioting in drunkenness when the Colony demands the cool head, the strong arm, and the true heart of every man among us! Oh, my country! my dear country! what fate is thine to expect when men like these are thy rulers?"

"Your Honor must be a stranger in New France or you would not express such hasty, honest sentiments upon the Intendant's hospitality. It is not the fashion, except among plain-spoken habitans, who always talk downright Norman." Master Pothier looked approvingly at Colonel Philibert, who, listening with indignant ears, scarcely heeded his guide.

"That is a jolly song, your Honor," continued Pothier, waving one hand in cadence to a ditty in praise of wine, which a loud voice was heard singing in the Chateau, accompanied by a rousing chorus which startled the very pigeons on the roof and chimney-stacks. Colonel Philibert recognized the song as one he had heard in the Quartier Latin, during his student life in Paris--he fancied he recognized the voice also:

"'Pour des vins de prix Vendons tous nos livres!

C'est pen d'etre gris, Amis, soyons ivres!

Bon.

La Faridondaine!

Gai.

La Faridonde!'"

A roar of voices and a clash of glasses followed the refrain.

Master Pothier's eyes winked and blinked in sympathy. The old notary stood on tiptoe, with outspread palms, as with ore rotundo he threw in a few notes of his own to fill up the chorus.

Philibert cast upon his guide a look of scorn, biting his lip angrily. "Go," said he, "knock at the door--it needs God's thunder to break in upon that infamous orgie. Say that Colonel Philibert brings orders from His Excellency the Governor to the Chevalier Intendant."

"And be served with a writ of ejectment! Pardon me! Be not angry, sir," pleaded Pothier supplicatingly, "I dare not knock at the door when they are at the devil's mass inside. The valets! I know them all! They would duck me in the brook, or drag me into the hall to make sport for the Philistines. And I am not much of a Samson, your Honor. I could not pull the Chateau down upon their heads--I wish I could!"

Master Pothier's fears did not appear ill-grounded to Philibert as a fresh burst of drunken uproar assailed his ears. "Wait my return," said he, "I will knock on the door myself." He left his guide, ran up the broad stone steps, and knocked loudly upon the door again and again! He tried it at last, and to his surprise found it unlatched; he pushed it open, no servitor appearing to admit him. Colonel Philibert went boldly in. A blaze of light almost dazzled his eyes.

The Chateau was lit up with lamps and candelabra in every part. The bright rays of the sun beat in vain for admittance upon the closed doors and blinded windows, but the splendor of midnight oil pervaded the interior of the stately mansion, making an artificial night that prolonged the wild orgies of the Intendant into the hours of day.

同类推荐
  • 吾吾类稿

    吾吾类稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 禅家龟鉴

    禅家龟鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 道德真经传

    道德真经传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 定命录

    定命录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 梵语千字文(并序附刻)

    梵语千字文(并序附刻)

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 魔君宠妃:废柴五小姐

    魔君宠妃:废柴五小姐

    让她一代叱咤风云的特工,做废柴软包子,这些逗比是脑袋坏了吧?!就算是穿越到玄幻世界,变成毫无武力值的废柴,她也会反手逆天,横行在世界顶峰!等下,那边的太子亲你肿么了?你肿么好好的太子不做,做魔君了?等等,你干嘛给我下聘书!一句话简介:你随意,我相随,记宠妻狂魔炼成秘诀。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 暗黑王国

    暗黑王国

    自小被拐至一个小岛接受非人训练的叶飞,经历了几年杀手生涯后,再一次执行任务中,假死新生,回国寻亲。却发现母亲改嫁,父亲去世。十五年前的刑讯逼供案,谁才是杀害父亲的真正凶手?
  • 谋战

    谋战

    战国时期是中国历史上最为辉煌伟大的时代,在这大争之世,百花齐放,百家争鸣,封建帝制尚未成型。其中齐、楚、燕、韩、赵、魏、秦这七个强国合纵连横,展开了斗智斗勇的较量。名臣显将,穷尽才华,各显风流。洛阳士子陈嵊师从鬼谷先生三年,学有所成,受命下山,先是助楚灭越,而后远走燕国,变法改制,拓取辽东,使弱燕一跃成为强国。他创立民家学派,却与整个天下为敌,别人的梦想都是合天下,对于他来讲,却仅仅只是一个开始而已。
  • 古缘尘

    古缘尘

    何以正?何以邪?当笑万物如刍狗,谁能翻云覆雨,谁能主宰天下,爱恨情仇,何人沉浮?(本书以存稿70万,请放心收藏,点击。绝对不坑,不太监)
  • 我与校花的贴身交流

    我与校花的贴身交流

    回到了江南的苏柒陌,准备做完最后一单就收手,和自己的未婚妻好好过日子的。谁料想,这最后的一单结果牵扯出了太多的事实。背后的阴谋到底是什么。被发掘出的真相让人很绝望。在这一切的背后是谁在操纵。接踵而来的美女校花们!傲娇未婚妻,火辣校花,清纯校花,霸气女警,神秘少妇,一个接着一个美女都这么的厉害。到头来,自己才发现所有的一切都是一个局,而自己在一开始便落到了圈套了!
  • 穿越让我如此美丽(完结)

    穿越让我如此美丽(完结)

    现代小女子的穿越,好像有点老套,不过这次她的任务艰巨,她是和亲公主,她要保家卫国,又要小心经营自己的爱情,在义正严词的背后是一副调皮永远都不安静的小女子情怀
  • 奇侠探案

    奇侠探案

    丝丝入扣;环环相连;且看姬子歌怎么抽丝剥茧;小心翼翼,步步为营;但看姬子歌如何突出重围。
  • 相府繁花

    相府繁花

    前世,林书儿因继母算计,错把蛇蝎当亲人,将所有爱她的人拒之千里,当成仇敌,最终家破人亡,自己亦凄惨赴死。再次重生,她定然不会再重蹈覆辙,将那些个蛇蝎一一揪出,千倍返还!而那些深爱着自己的人,这一世,她定然不会再让他们失望!
  • 星空帝君

    星空帝君

    【一部小说,带你看尽这世间百态……】弹指星辰破,覆手斩敌首。寻归途,征天命,举世皆敌!与这一世为敌,霸这一世帝位,掌这一世苍生归途。
  • 脉象口诀歌

    脉象口诀歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。