Shortly afterwards came
Liebard, the farmer of Toucques, short, rotund and ruddy, wearing
a grey jacket and spurred boots.
Both men brought their landlady either chickens or cheese.
Felicite would invariably thwart their ruses and they held her in
great respect.
At various times, Madame Aubain received a visit from the Marquis
de Gremanville, one of her uncles, who was ruined and lived at
Falaise on the remainder of his estates. He always came at
dinner-time and brought an ugly poodle with him, whose paws soiled
the furniture. In spite of his efforts to appear a man of breeding
(he even went so far as to raise his hat every time he said "My
deceased father"), his habits got the better of him, and he would
fill his glass a little too often and relate broad stories.
Felicite would show him out very politely and say: "You have had
enough for this time, Monsieur de Gremanville! Hoping to see you
again!" and would close the door.
She opened it gladly for Monsieur Bourais, a retired lawyer. His
bald head and white cravat, the ruffling of his shirt, his flowing
brown coat, the manner in which he took his snuff, his whole
person, in fact, produced in her the kind of awe which we feel
when we see extraordinary persons.
Pages:
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77