_Bev._ Excuse my peculiar mode of expression--but you appear to me to pass your life in being perpetually overcome. _Mad. A._ Women are but fragile flowers. [_Weeps._ _Bev._ They seem to require a deal of water. _Mad. A._ But horses, sir--talking of horses, puts me in mind of a pet I had. _Mad. L._ A pet horse, dear? _Mad. A._ No, love, a donkey. Oh! [_Weeps._ _Bev._ [_Aside._] Now she's watering the donkey. _Mad. A._ I had the dear little creature for two years. Just long enough to--pray listen, sir. [_To MANUEL._ _Man._ I beg your pardon, Madame--I'm all attention--I heard. The creature had two ears just long enough-- [_All laugh._ _Mad. A._ No, no; I said I had him for two years--just a sufficient time to love him like a child--when he died--died, sir, of one of those diseases peculiar to that class of quadruped. _Man._ Children? _Mad. A._ No, sir, Donkies! Dear me, it was, Umph! let me see, you must know, sir, what I mean? [_To BEVANNES._ _Bev._ Measles? _Mad. A._ No, no, but no matter; He died-- _Bev._ Peace to his ashes. But as you were saying, Madame Laroque, there are plenty of horses in the stable, and, really, all but ruined for want of exercise. _Enter DR. DESMARETS._ _Des._ Yes, that's what you'll _all_ be, if you continue to lounge away the days as you do. _Mad. L._ Ah, Doctor, we've missed you dreadfully. _Des._ What's the matter? anybody sick? _Bev._ You ought to have been here just now, Doctor; Madame Aubrey has told the most touching tale-- _Des._ Of a donkey? I know, I've heard it often. _Bev._ But with regard to a horse for M. Manuel. There's Black Harry-- _Des._ Black Harry! Nobody can ride the brute! He's perfectly untameable! Why, de Bevannes, you tried it yourself and couldn't. _Bev._ Ahem! Oh--ah--yes, but I had no spurs. _Des._ Spurs! Why, you couldn't even get upon his back! _Bev._ Eh--why--no--not exactly--[_Aside_] Confound him! _Man._ [_To BEVANNES_] And is Black Harry so very unmanageable? _Bev._ 'Pon my word I don't see it. He has an insuperable objection to being mounted, but if you can get upon his back, and _being_ on his back, can _keep_ there, why, of course, it's a great point in your favor. _Man._ [_Smiling._] Certainly an important one. _Des._ If you except a partiality for biting, and ditto for kicking, occasionally shying, and always prone to running away, he's a pleasant beast. _Mar._ But such a beauty! I never saw a horse I should like so much to ride, if he were but properly broken. _Man._ [_To MAD. LAROQUE_] Madame, have I your permission? _Mad. L._ Certainly. [_MANUEL rings._ _Bev._ [_Aside._] What's he at now? _Enter ALAIN._ _Man._ Tell one of the grooms to saddle Black Harry. _Alain._ Sir! _Des._ What? _Mad. L._ No--no-- _Man._ [_To_ ALAIN.] Did you hear my order?