my child. I am a little of a maniac. At my age that is allowed, is it not? For instance, I do not think it proper that a woman should black her own shoes, much less mine. I have a great respect for women, Marie, and cannot endure that. So I will black your shoes, your little shoes, your dear little shoes. I will take care of them. Listen to me. Every evening, before going to bed, you will carry your shoes into my room; you will place them near the bed, on a little table, and every morning, on coming to open my windows, you will take them away again."
And, as I manifested a prodigious astonishment, he added:
"Oh! now, it is nothing enormous that I ask of you; it is a very natural thing, after all. And if you are very nice". . .
Quickly he took from his pocket two louis, which he handed to me.
"If you are very nice, very obedient, I will often make you little presents. The governess will pay you your wages every month. But between ourselves, Marie, I shall often make you little presents. And what is it that I ask of you? Come, now, it is not extraordinary. Is it, then, indeed, so extraordinary? "
Monsieur was getting excited again. As he spoke his eyelids rapidly rose and fell, like leaves in a tempest.
