Never was there a better regulated household than that of the Count
de Commarin. He possessed in a high degree the art, more rare than is
generally supposed, of commanding an army of servants. The number of his
domestics caused him neither inconvenience nor embarrassment. They were
necessary to him. So perfect was the organisation of this household,
that its functions were performed like those of a machine,--without
noise, variation, or effort.
Thus when the count returned from his journey, the sleeping hotel was
awakened as if by the spell of an enchanter. Each servant was at his
post; and the occupations, interrupted during the past six weeks,
resumed without confusion. As the count was known to have passed the day
on the road, the dinner was served in advance of the usual hour. All the
establishment, even to the lowest scullion, represented the spirit
of the first article of the rules of the house, "Servants are not to
execute orders, but anticipate them."
M. de Commarin had hardly removed the traces of his journey, and changed
his dress, when his butler announced that the dinner was served.
He went down at once; and father and son met upon the threshold of the
dining-room.
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