THE TULIPS. 103 



Our friend was a bachelor, and spent not more than an 

 eighth part of his income. "Peter," said he to his servant, 

 "M. Biault will have nothing to do with my tulips; to whom 

 can I give them? " Peter said that the yard in which the dog 

 was allowed to run had originally been a little garden, for 

 two lilacs and an acacia proved it; that they had only to turn 

 up the earth to have a hundred times more room than could 

 be wanted for twelve tulips; and that on the morrow he would 

 set about it. Accordingly, Peter rose early and began to 

 dig. He had bought a spade and a rake for eight francs, and 

 his master began to think the tulips dear, and that it was 

 reaUy a pity M. R6ault would not accept them. The follow- 

 ing night the dog, which till that time had been allowed to 

 be loose in the yard, revenged himself for his captivity by 

 frightful bowlings. Next day Peter said to his master — '■' Sir, 

 I have turned up earth enough to plant a thousand tulips, 

 but there is one thing that stops me ; I don't know at what 

 depth they should be planted." — "Oh! you must take your 

 chance; they are sure to come up some time or other." — "But, 

 Sir, I have a cousin who is a gardener, and I have told him 

 to come this morning. Monsieur wiU only have to pay him 

 for half a-day's work, and the tulips will be planted properly." 



At a house at which he called in the course of the day, a 

 lady said to him — " I am told you are planting a garden." 



" No," said he, '" I am simply putting in the earth twelve 

 tulip roots which M. Bernard sent me." 



" Oh, then, they are most hkely something beautiful ; he is 

 considered a great amateur; besides, people don't make a 

 present of a dozen tuKp roots, unless they are rare and 

 valuable plants." 



" I really know nothing about the matter." 



" How is it that you have not had a garden before this 

 time?" 



" I never thought of it." 



"Mr. Delarue has a charming garden; I and my sister 

 went to see it the day before yesterday." 



"Ah ! if I had a garden, then you would come and see it?" 



" Very probably we might." 



Arnold returned home with his mind very much pre- 

 occupied; he had remarked this lady for some time^past, 



