He left me, requesting me to sit down and
wait. I had waited more than a quarter of an hour, when he reappeared.
His master graciously deigned to receive me."
It was easy to perceive that the advocate's reception rankled in his
breast, and that he considered it an insult. He could not forgive Albert
his lackeys and his valet. He forgot the words of the illustrious duke,
who said, "I pay my lackeys to be insolent, to save myself the trouble
and ridicule of being so." Old Tabaret was surprised at his young
friend's display of bitterness, in speaking of these trivial details.
"What narrow-mindedness," thought he, "for a man of such intelligence!
Can it be true that the arrogance of lackeys is the secret of the
people's hatred of an amiable and polite aristocracy?"
"I was ushered into a small apartment," continued Noel, "simply
furnished, the only ornaments of which were weapons. These, ranged
against the walls, were of all times and countries. Never have I seen
in so small a space so many muskets, pistols, swords, sabres, and foils.
One might have imagined himself in a fencing master's arsenal."
The weapon used by Widow Lerouge's assassin naturally recurred to the
old fellow's memory.
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