"Oh! he's the shrewdest lady-killer within six leagues; his mother she lets him do just as he wants to, so off he goes to Paris, where he had business anyway. After some time he writes home as how he's found the woman as suits him. Well, well! she must be virtue and innocence itself, you see! for Cadet knows what's what in the matter of women." "And he found this treasure in Paris?" "Not just in Paris, but in the outskirts. So, as he took his charmer's fancy, he brought her back with him, and he's going to marry her. That's why I'd like to have you come to the wedding, to tell me what you think of my nephew's choice." Auguste would have liked to make the acquaintance of the bride whom Monsieur Cadet Eustache had found in the suburbs of Paris. He thought of Denise, and imagined that Monsieur Rondin's nephew had found some young village maiden as fresh and pretty and alluring as the little milkmaid. That thought made him sigh. "Perhaps she too is married!" he said to himself; "for she was in love with someone; she told me as much when she said that she would never love me." Auguste had ceased to smile since his memories had taken him back to Montfermeil. The peasant, surprised by his neighbor's melancholy, dared not suggest again his coming to the wedding, and Bertrand said under his breath: "It would certainly be good fun to stay at table for a whole week; but there's always some pretty face at a wedding party, and I musn't expose my lieutenant to the risk of running off with another woman, for I shan't always have the good fortune to fall in with a leather merchant." Nothing more was said, and the _carriole_ crawled on. In four hours they made but one league. At the end of that time, Père Rondin, who was fond of talking, said to Auguste: "If you're going to Italy on business, it's safe to say you won't get there in time. Be you an attorney?" "No, I am a painter and a musician." "A painter and a musician! Jarni! that's just what we want! you could play for our girls to dance, and paint a picture of the bride! That would be a nice surprise for Eustache!" "Parbleu!" thought Auguste, "it would be funny enough if I should make the first trial of my talents on these good people!--What do you say, Bertrand? I rather like the idea of painting the bride's portrait." "You see, Cadet wrote me as how she's a fine figure of a girl," said Père Rondin. "Be you good at catching resemblances?" "Why, I haven't tried anything else as yet. However, I'll paint whatever you wish.--Come, Bertrand, this decides me. We'll go to the wedding." "The wedding it is, monsieur. But for God's sake, don't do anything foolish, but remember your resolutions." "Never fear, you will be satisfied with me."