greatly alarmed, got out of the coach, and, standing between them, intreated her
husband to re-enter the house.
"None of your clack!" cried he angrily; "what the D-l, do you suppose I can't
manage a Frenchman?"
Meantime, Madame Duval called out to M. Du Bois, "Eh, laissez-le, mon ami, ne
le corrigez pas; c'est une villaine bete qui n'en vaut pas la peine."
"Monsieur le Capitaine," cried M. Du Bois, "voulez-vous bien ne demander
pardon?"
"O ho, you demand pardon, do you?" said the Captain," I thought as much; I
thought you'd come to;-so you have lost your relish for an English salutation,
have you?" strutting up to him with looks of defiance.
A crowd was now gathering, and Mrs. Mirvan again besought her husband to go
into the house.
"Why, what a plague is the woman afraid of?-Did you ever know a Frenchman
that could not take an affront?-I warrant Monseer knows what he is about;-don't
you Monseer?"
M. Du Bois, not understanding him, only said, "plait-il, Monsieur?"
"No, nor dish me neither," answered the Captain; "but, be that as it may, what
signifies our parleying here? If you've any thing to propose, speak at once; if not,
why let us go on our journey without more ado."
"Parbleu, je n'entends rien, moi!" cried M. Du Bois, shrugging up his shoulders,
and looking very dismal.
Mrs. Mirvan then advanced to him, and said in French, that she was sure the
Captain had not any intention to affront him, and begged he would desist from a
dispute which could only be productive of mutual misunderstanding, as neither of
them knew the language of the other.
This sensible remonstrance had the desired effect; and M. Du Bois, making a
bow to every one except the Captain, very wisely gave up the point, and took
leave.
We then hoped to proceed quietly on our journey; but the turbulent Captain
would not yet permit us. He approached Madame Duval with an exulting air, and
said, "Why, how's this, Madame? what, has your champion deserted you? why, I
thought you told me, that you old gentlewomen had it all your own way among
them French sparks?"
"As to that, Sir," answered she, "it's not of no consequence what you thought; for
a person who can behave in such a low way, may think what he pleases for me,
for I sha'n't mind."
"Why then, Mistress, since you must needs make so free," cried he, "please to
tell me the reason you took the liberty for to ask any of your followers into my
coach without my leave? Answer me to that."
"Why, then, pray, Sir," returned she, "tell me the reaon why you took the liberty
to treat the gentleman in such an unpolite way, as to take and pull him neck and
heels out? I'm sure he hadn't done nothing to affront you, nor nobody else; and I
don't know what great hurt he would have done you, by just sitting still in the
coach; he would not have eat it."
