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Paris 5 Le Dimanche Paris It was Sunday; and when La Fleur came in, in the morning, with my coffee, and roll, and butter, he had got himself so gallantly arrayed, I scarce knew him. I had covenanted at Montreal to give him a new hat with a silver button and loop, and four Louis dors pour sadoniser, when we got to Paris; and the poor fellow, to do him justice, had done wonders with it. He had bought a bright, clean, good scarlet coat, and a pair of breeches of the sameThey were not a crown worse, he said, for the wearingI wishd him hangd for telling meThey lookd so fresh, that though I knew the thing could not be done, yet I would rather have imposed upon my fancy with thinking I had bought them new for the fellow, than that they had come out of the Rue de Friperie. This is a nicety which makes not the heart sore at Paris. He had purchased moreover a handsome blue sattin waistcoat, fancifully enough embroideredthis was indeed something the worse for the service it had done, but twas clean scourdthe gold had been touchd up, and upon the whole was rather showy than otherwiseand as the blue was not violent, it suited with the coat and breeches very well: he had squeezd out of the money, moreover, a new bag and a solitaire; and had insisted with the fripier upon a gold pair of garters to his breeches kneesHe had purchased muslin ruffles, bien brodées, with four livres of his own moneyand a pair of white silk stockings for five moreand, to top all, nature had given him a handsome figure, without costing him a sous. He enterd the room thus set off, with his hair drest in the first style, and with a handsome bouquet in his breastin a word, there was that look of festivity in every thing about him, which at once put me in mind it was Sundayand by combining both together, it instantly struck me, that the favour he wishd to ask of me the night before, was to spend the day, as every body in Paris spent it besides. I had scarce made the conjecture, when La Fleur, with infinite humility, but with a look of trust, as if I should not refuse him, beggd I would grant him the day, pour faire le galant vis-à-vis de sa maitresse. Now it was the very thing I intended to do myself vis-à-vis Madame de R****I had retained the remise on purpose for it, and it would not have mortified my vanity to have had a servant so well dressd as La Fleur was, to have got up behind it; I never could have worse spared him. But we must feel, not argue in these embarrassmentsthe sons and daughters of service part with liberty, but not with nature, in their contracts; they are flesh and blood, and have their little vanities and wishes in the midst of the house of bondage, as well as their taskmastersno doubt, they have set their self-denials at a priceand their expectations are so unreasonable, that I would often disappoint them, but that their condition puts it so much in my power to do it. Behold!Behold, I am thy servantdisarms me at once of the powers of a master Thou shalt go, La Fleur! said I And what mistress, La Fleur, said I, canst thou have pickd up in so little a time at Paris? La Fleur laid his hand upon his breast, and said twas a petite demoiselle at Monsieur le Count de B****sLa Fleur had a heart made for society; and, to speak the truth of him, let as few occasions slip him as his masterso that some how or other; but howheaven knowshe had connected himself with the demoiselle upon the landing of the stair-case, during the time I was taken up with my passport; and as there was time enough for me to win the Count to my interest, La Fleur had contrived to make it do to win the maid to hisThe family, it seems, was to be at Paris that day, and he had made a party with her, and two or three more of the Counts houshold, upon the boulevards. |
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