"In the first place, I am clerk to a notary," answered Butscha. "But
haven't you seen my hump? It is full of resources, monsieur. I have
made myself cousin to Mademoiselle Philoxene Jacmin, born at Honfleur,
where my mother was born, a Jacmin,--there are eight branches of the
Jacmins at Honfleur. So my cousin Philoxene, enticed by the bait of a
highly improbable fortune, has told me a good many things."
"The duchess is vindictive?" said La Briere.
"Vindictive as a queen, Philoxene says; she has never yet forgiven the
duke for being nothing more than her husband," replied Butscha. "She
hates as she loves. I know all about her character, her tastes, her
toilette, her religion, and her manners; for Philoxene stripped her
for me, soul and corset. I went to the opera expressly to see her, and
I didn't grudge the ten francs it cost me--I don't mean the play. If
my imaginary cousin had not told me the duchess had seen her fifty
summers, I should have thought I was over-generous in giving her
thirty; she has never known a winter, that duchess!"
"Yes," said La Briere, "she is a cameo--preserved because it is stone.
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