278 A TOUR BOUND MY GABDEN. 



" My dear Monsieur Levasseur," said I, " I do not wish to 

 have any difference with you, but you must please to recol- 

 lect that according to our agreement, I am at liberty to go 

 out every evening, and that by reserving only Friday to 

 myself, I make a concession that you ought to receive, at 

 least, with pohteness." 



" I don't enter into these reasons," said he ; " but I must 

 be master in my own house. I am very willing to permit 

 you to go out on Fridays, but not to-day." 



I thought I had paid a sufficiently high ransom for my 

 beloved Fridays in giving up the other days of the week. I 

 replied that I was exceedingly sorry, but that I must go out. 



He left me, saying, "Next Friday, if you please; but to- 

 day you must not think of it." 



When left alone, I became angry with myself and my ap- 

 parent want of firmness and spirit. I said no more until the 

 usual hour, when I dressed myself, and prepared to go out. 

 I found M. and Madame Levasseur in the doorway, in full 

 dress ; Madame in particular was decked out in flaming style, 

 and her dress occupied an incredible space. They thought 

 to have been beforehand with me, imagining that if they 

 were once gone, I should not dare to leave the house un- 

 protected, and should stay at home. I bowed to them as 

 I passed out before them. M. Levasseur called me back. I 

 turned towards them with the remark that I was late, and 

 rather in a hurry. 



"Sir," said M. Levasseur, purple with rage, "I forbade 

 your going out at all." 



" Sir," replied I coolly, "have you any right to do sol Do 

 you think you are acting legally and honestly by me? Is 

 this according to our agreement?" 



" I don't enter into these reasons," said he ; "I am deter- 

 mined to be master in my own house. When I forbid you 

 to go out, you ought not to go out." 



" Sir," said I, " I pardon your speaking thus, because I 

 have merited it by my own want of spirit in allowing you to 

 impose upon me as you have done ; I leave your house, sir, 

 never to return to it." 



"That is just what I wish," answered M. Levasseur. I 

 bowed, and left them 



