The White House Part 74

"I am terribly afraid of being cold to-night with my wife; not that--but still, this room should have been warmed."

He left the room and happened to meet Jeannette; thereupon he recalled the stout maiden's functions; an idea occurred to him, he struck his forehead joyfully and called the servant.

"Jeannette, you will warm the marriage-bed to-night, do you hear?"

"Oh! monsieur wants his bed warmed?"

"Yes, Jeannette, it cannot fail to be very agreeable to both my wife and myself."

"All right, monsieur."

"By the way, Jeannette, just warm it with sugar; that is more refined and it smells very nice."

"With sugar? But, monsieur, you see----"

"Do as I tell you, Jeannette."

Robineau walked away and returned to the salon. Jeannette, when she was alone, scratched her ear, saying to herself:

"Warm his bed with sugar! How can I do that? I don't understand that at all, myself!"

To obtain an explanation, Jeannette, who had seen Ferulus go to his room, knocked at his door.

"It's me, monsieur," she said.

"I'm asleep," Ferulus replied from his bed.

"But I want you to explain something, monsieur."

"I'm asleep, I tell you! _Retro, Satanas!_"

"But the master wants me to warm his bed with sugar----"

"Warm it with the four spices and leave me in peace."

Unable to obtain any different reply, Jeannette went down to the kitchen, to Mademoiselle Cheval, and said to her:

"Do you know what to do to warm a bed with sugar?"

"Pardine! what a question!" replied the cook; "why, you put sugar in the warming pan. That's all, my girl."

"And monsieur said it smelt good."

"Why, yes; it makes a kind of caramel!"

"Oho! it makes ca-a-ramel! that's funny! I wouldn't have thought that!"

Jeannette procured several lumps of sugar and went up to the nuptial chamber, saying to herself:

"What queer notions these rich people have! never mind, as it's my work, I must obey."

And Jeannette crawled into the nuptial bed, which was surrounded by immense silk curtains; then she proceeded to sweeten her warming pan, saying to herself:

"I must make some caramel for 'em, if they like it!"

The bed prepared for the husband and wife was soft and luxurious, and Jeannette stretched herself out therein with keen enjoyment, thinking that she must warm it thoroughly for her master. But Jeannette had become very tired during the day, having had to dress the ladies and wait at dinner; and as she recalled what she had had to do, while dressing the bride, and the different dishes served at dinner, the buxom damsel yawned, closed her eyes and finally fell asleep in the nuptial bed.

Whist, chess and piquet came to an end; all the strangers took a solemn leave of the bride and groom and left the chateau. Edouard and Alfred went to their rooms, after wis.h.i.+ng a good-night to Robineau, who squeezed their hands as if he were in convulsions. Eudoxie, whose vapors was brought on by the approach of that moment, had long since retired.

Monsieur le marquis rose, walked up to Robineau and said in his ear:

"My son-in-law, see that everything goes off all right, I beg."

"Father-in-law, you may rest a.s.sured that it shall," replied Robineau, bowing low to Monsieur de la Pincerie.

At last the bridegroom took his bride's hand and retired with her to the nuptial chamber.

They found the room lighted, but they looked upon that circ.u.mstance simply as an attention on the part of the servants. It was an enormous room, and the bed, which stood in an alcove, was concealed by the curtains. Before going thither, it was necessary to divest themselves of their garments, which Cornelie proceeded to do with the utmost tranquillity, while Robineau tossed his clothes on the floor in a twinkling and danced about the room, exclaiming:

"I am too happy! I believe I am going to be dizzy!"

"I trust that you are not going to be ill, monsieur!" said Cornelie, "for that would not afford me any amus.e.m.e.nt whatever."

Robineau made no reply, but rubbed his temples and forehead with eau de Melisse.

At last Cornelie completed her toilet for the night and walked toward the alcove; but as she was about to draw the curtains aside, she stopped, fell back a step or two, turned pale and said:

"This is very strange!"

"Would you like some eau de Melisse, too, my dear love?" inquired Robineau, who was at the other end of the room.

"No, monsieur, no--but come here,--walk softly, and listen; it seems to me that I hear someone breathing."

Robineau shuddered; he no longer desired to approach the bed, and his bride was compelled to go to fetch him. When he reached the alcove, he distinctly heard someone there. Thereupon his legs gave way under him and he was obliged to cling to a chair.

"Do you hear?" whispered Cornelie.

"Yes, yes, madame!"

"There is someone hidden here, who seems to be asleep."

"It's the--the ghost from the Tower--come to disturb my bliss."

"Oh! no, monsieur! it's no ghost; but it may very well be a thief!--Go, monsieur, ring, call for help."

"I haven't the strength to move, madame!"

"Bah! what a man you are!"