"By Jove! what horses!" he exclaimed, in admiration, "and he knows how to drive, too; there's no mistake about that, he's a born aristocrat." * * * * * After luncheon, Pierrot declared that his foot hurt him just at the end of each toe, and he did not know what it could be. "I know, though," remarked Jean de Blaye; "his boots are too short." "Too short!" exclaimed M. de Jonzac, "oh, no, that's impossible"--and then, after a moment's reflection, he added in terror: "unless his feet have got bigger still--" "Which they probably have," said Jean, laughing; "anyhow, his toes are turned up at the ends and curl back over each other, I am sure; you have only to look at his feet, now, to tell. Look at the lumps in his boots; they look like bags of nuts." "I must get him some more boots to-day," said M. de Jonzac. "The best thing, uncle, would be to send him to Pont-sur-Loire to be measured; there's sure to be a decent bootmaker there." "M. Courteil is going just now to take a letter to the bishop and get an answer to it," remarked Madame de Bracieux; "he might take Pierrot with him." "Well, then," said Bijou, "they might take our omnibus, so that Jeanne and I could go too; we have some errands to do." "What are they?" asked the marchioness. "Well, first, some crepe--we want some crepe for Jeanne; and then some pencils and paints that I am short of; in fact, there are a lot of things." "Would you like me to take you all?" proposed M. de Clagny; "I have some business with a lawyer at Pont-sur-Loire at three o'clock. You could do all your errands, and then I would bring you back; it's on my way to The Noriniere." "Oh, what fun!" exclaimed Bijou, delighted. "I have never been on a mail-coach; you don't mind, grandmamma?" Madame de Bracieux seemed rather undecided. "Well, I don't know, Bijou dear; you see at Pont-sur-Loire you will be noticed very much perched up there, and for two young girls I don't know whether it is quite the thing--" "Oh, grandmamma," protested Bijou, "not the thing! and with M. de Clagny there!" "Yes, with me," put in the count, with emphasis, his face suddenly clouding over, "there is no danger; I am safe enough." "Yes, certainly," replied Madame de Bracieux with evident sincerity; "but at Pont-sur-Loire everyone is so fond of gossip and scandal." "Oh, grandmamma," Bijou said, in a beseeching tone, "don't deprive us of a treat, which you don't see any harm in whatever yourself, just because of the Pont-sur-Loire people, about whom you do not care at all." "Yes, you are right. Go, then, children, as you want to, for, as you say, there is no harm whatever in amusing yourselves in that way." "Is there any room for me?" asked M. de Rueille. "For you, and some more of you," answered M. de Clagny; "we are only six at present." The marchioness turned towards Bertrade. "What do you say about going with them to look after the girls?"