"
"But I am not gallant, my good lady," exclaimed Paz. "I am an
unfortunate father who tries to deceive himself by a resemblance."
"Then am I to pass for your daughter?" said Malaga, slyly, and not in
the least suspecting the perfect sincerity of his proposal.
"Yes," said Paz, "and I'll come and see you sometimes. But you shall
be lodged in better rooms, comfortably furnished."
"I shall have furniture!" cried Malaga, looking at Madame Chapuzot.
"And servants," said Paz, "and all you want."
Malaga looked at the stranger suspiciously.
"What countryman is monsieur?"
"I am a Pole."
"Oh! then I accept," she said.
Paz departed, promising to return.
"Well, that's a stiff one!" said Marguerite Turquet, looking at Madame
Chapuzot; "I'm half afraid he is wheedling me, to carry out some fancy
of his own--Pooh! I'll risk it."
A month after this eccentric interview the circus-rider was living in
a comfortable apartment furnished by Comte Adam's own upholsterer, Paz
having judged it desirable to have his folly talked about at the hotel
Laginski. Malaga, to whom this adventure was like a leaf out of the
Arabian Nights, was served by Monsieur and Madame Chapuzot in the
double capacity of friends and servants. The Chapuzots and Marguerite
were constantly expecting some result of all this; but at the end of
three months none of them were able to make out the meaning of the
Polish count's caprice.
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