The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-04
The GUEST
OF QUESNAY
Booth Harrington

apron like a skirt and SO competently
encircling that hir trousers are of mere
conventionality and no real necessity,
but after o'clock becoming aitogeth-
er maitre d'hotel he is clad as any
other formal gentleman.
Amedee's suggestions as to my TO
past were deferential, but insistent-
His manner was that Of prime min
lister who goes through the form OF
convincing the sovereign. He greeted
each OF his own decisions with a very
loud 'sBien" as II startled by the bril-
being concluded, exploded whole vol
ley of 'Bieus' and set of violently to
instruct old CASTOR. the cook.
The inn itself is gray with age, the
roof sagging pleasantly here and there.
and an old wooden gallery runs the
length of each wing, the guest cham
| bers Of the upper story opening upon
1t like the deck rooms OF steamer,
with boxes Of tulips and hyacinths
along the gallery ratings and window
lodges for the gayest of border lines.
In the course Of time and well with
I'm the bright twilight Hi, hat Anaedee spread
the crisp white cloth and served me at
-tahie=eF9my pavilion porch He
feigned anxiety lest / should find GER
tain dishes Those which he knew were
most deiectabie) not to my taste. but
was obviously so distended with fatu-
! Gus pride over the whole meal that It
least some trif1ing sauce or garnish-
ment. Nevertheless so much mendacity
proved beyond me. and / spared him
and nay ewn conscience. The salad
prepared and the water bubbifng tn
the coffee machine. he favored me with
a discourse on the decline in glory Of
Les Trois Pigeons.
Monsieur. 1t Is the automobiles
They have done 1t. Formerly. as when
monsieur was here, the painters came
from Paris. What busy times and
what drolleries. All. II was gay In
those days. Monsieur remembers well
Ha. ha, But now, think. the auto
mobiles have frightened away the
painters.
- should have said that we should
be happier Ii we had many like mon
steur." went on Amedee. but 1t 10
early In the season to despair. Then.
too. our best suit is already engaged"
by whom?"
Two men of science who arrive
next week. One is great man. Nine.
Brossard is pleased that he Is coming
to Les Trois Pigeons. but tell her it
Is only natural. He comes now for the
first time because he likes the quiet"
who is the great man, Amedee?"
''Ah, A distinguished professor Of
science. truly. He is member OF the
institute Monsieur must have heard
of that great Professor leredec?"
THE name is know. Who is the
other:"
"A friend of his. do not know. All
| the upper hoor of the east wing they
have taken--the grand suit-those two
and their valet de ehambre. That 10
| truly the way In modern times-the
philosophers are rich men,"
YES" sighed. ''Only the painters
are poor nowadays
TIA. ha. monsieur Amedee Iaugh-
ed cunningly. ut was always eifsy to
see that monsieur amuses himself only
with his painting
Thank you. Amedee." responded.
81 have amused other people with 1t,
too. fear"
Monsieur remembers tie Chateau dc
Quesnay. at the crest Of the hill on the
road north OF Dives?"
Il remember"
at is occupied this season by some
rich Americans"
How do you know they are richT
"Dieu de Dieu.' The old fellow ap-
pealed to heaven. "But they are Amer
icans.''
And therefore millionaires. Perfect
". Amedee''
perfectly. monsieur. Perhaps mon
sieur knows them"
"Yes. i know them"
Truly He affected dejectt0A
"And poor Nine. Brossard thought
monsieur Ind returned to our old hotel
because he liked it and remembered
our wine Of Peaune and the good beds
and old Gaston's cooking!'
do not weep. Amedee,' said. Il
have come to- paint, not because I
know the people who have taken
Quesnay." And added. Il may not
sec them at all"
ero be Continued,
-