Hardly attending
himself to his own words, he began with a commonplace phrase: "I
regret, Monsieur Lomaque, that we have not had more opportunities
of bettering our acquaintance."
"I feel deeply indebted," rejoined the land-steward, "to the
admirable Madame Danville for having chosen me as her escort
hither from her son's estate near Lyons, and having thereby
procured for me the honor of this introduction." Both Monsieur
Lomaque's red-rimmed eyes were seized with a sudden fit of
winking, as he made this polite speech. His enemies were
accustomed to say that, whenever he was particularly insincere,
or particularly deceitful, he always took refuge in the weakness
of his eyes, and so evaded the trying ordeal of being obliged to
look steadily at the person whom he was speaking with.
"I was pleased to hear you mention my late father's name, at
dinner, in terms of high respect," continued Trudaine, resolutely
keeping up the conversation. "Did you know him?"
"I am indirectly indebted to your excellent father," answered the
land-steward, "for the very situation which I now hold. At a time
when the good word of a man of substance and reputation was
needed to save me from poverty and ruin, your father spoke that
word. Since then I have, in my own very small way, succeeded in
life, until I have risen to the honor of superintending the
estate of Monsieur Danville.
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