106 A TOUR ROUND MT GARDEN. 



for it over again, at a thousand times higher price than the 

 first, by enduring the annoyance which this eternal litigator 

 inflicts upon me daily. I did hope to have the patience to 

 wait tiU the poplars were in leaf; but, do you hear, Peter, 

 / will not see him again." 



M. Durut presented himself the next day. The same answer 

 from Peter; the same persistence on the part of M. Durut. 



" But, Peter, I am sure he is at home ; I only this moment 

 saw him in my garden." 



" Very likely, Sir; but master told me himself that he was 

 not at home." 



" Then, Peter, go and tell him I am here." 



" It's of no use. Sir ; there is nobody at home." 



" Ah, that's all very well, — ^go, I say, and tell him I am 

 here." 



" No, Sir, I shall not go ; master would discharge me." 



M. Durut returned home, and called to Arnold out of his 

 window — "Hilloa! neighbour!" Arnold pretended to be 

 very busy, and made no reply; but M. Durut was not dis- 

 couraged by such a trifle as that. "Hilloa! neighbour!" 

 cried he; " Monsieur Arnold!" Arnold could have thrashed 

 him well with aU his heart. " Hilloa ! gardener ; tell M. 

 Arnold I am calling him." Arnold left the garden. " The 

 leaves are very backward!" sighed he. 



The next day M. Durut returned to the charge, met with 

 the same repulse from Peter, and went again to his window 

 to caU Arnold. The latter for a time affected deafness, but 

 his patience was at length overcome. 



" Well, Sir, I hear you plainly enough!" replied he.- 



" That's well," cried M. Durut. "Why, Peter persisted in 

 saying you were not at home, although I told him I saw you 

 in my garden; he would not admit me !" 



" Peter was right, Sir; I am not at home." 



" How, neighbour? what does that mean?" 



" That means. Sir, that there are moments in which I wish 

 to be alone ; and if we are to continue good neighbours, we 

 must not incommode each other." 



" That is to say. Sir, that your door is shut against 

 me." 



" That is only to say, Sir, that you will do me great plea- 



