I was appointed a sort of deputy, to present to the governor
the complaints of the stomach; he was with the principal clerk." I do not
want to feed you in the morning," said he, in a gruff, surly tone; "my
servant has no time to prepare your breakfast." "But, sir, you are bound to
give us our morning meal." "Well, you may send out for your breakfast, and
I will pay for it. How much do you want?--forty sous each?" added he, with
some other subject evidently upon his mind, and mentioning, "forty sous,"
in the same manner that he would have said twenty sous, or a hundred sous.
"Yes, sir," I exclaimed, "forty sous, will do," catching the ball "on the
fly." "Let it be so," answered the notary; "the head clerk will take charge
of the expense, and I will settle with him." Thereupon the governor shut
the door in my face.' You must confess, gentleman that Germain would be
astonished at the extraordinary liberality of the governor."
"Germain would say: 'The governor is out of his head.'"
"And forty sous a-head out of his pocket," said Chalamel.
"Well done! the first chemist was right who said: 'Bitter as _Calomel!_'"
"Seriously, I believe that the governor is sick."
"For ten days past, he is scarcely to be recognized. His cheeks are so
hollow, that you might thrust in your fist."
"And he is so absent-minded, that it is curious to see him. The other day
he took off his glasses to read a deed; his eyes were red as live coals.
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