before us."
"Do not reckon too much on time; were the hours we have twice as many as they are, they would not be too much," replied Pellisson; "it is never a fault to arrive too soon."
"Adieu!" said the superintendent; "come with me, Pellisson. Gourville, I commend my guests to your care." And he set off. The Epicureans did not perceive that the head of the school had left them; the violins continued playing all night long.
CHAPTER 59. A Quarter of an Hour's Delay
Fouquet, on leaving his house for the second time that day, felt himself less heavy and less disturbed than might have been expected. He turned towards Pellisson, who was meditating in the corner of the carriage some good arguments against the violent proceedings of Colbert.
"My dear Pellisson," said Fouquet, "it is a great pity you are not a woman."
"I think, on the contrary, it is very fortunate," replied Pellisson, "for, monseigneur, I am excessively ugly."
"Pellisson! Pellisson!" said the superintendent, laughing: "you repeat too often you are `ugly,' not to leave people to believe that it gives you much pain."
"In fact it does, monseigneur, much pain; there is no man more unfortunate than I: I was handsome, the smallpox rendered me hideous; I am deprived of a great means of attraction; now, I am your principal clerk or something of that sort; I take great interest in your affairs, and if, at this moment, I were a pretty woman, I could render you an important service."
"What?"