III
Marcel, seeing that his uncle's vanity as a horticulturist had resumed the upper hand, and thinking that he might exploit his delight to the advantage of his aunt and cousin, lavished the most fulsome praise on the future Antonia.
"You intend, of course, to present it to the Royal Garden. The learned professors will hold you in the greatest esteem!"
"Oh! as to that, not much!" replied Monsieur Antoine; "they can look at it to their heart's content, describe it in their fine language, specificize it as they say; but it's the only specimen of its kind, and I won't part with it until I have a lot of bulbs."
"But what if it dies without offspring?"
"Why, then my name will live in the catalogues!"
"That isn't enough! If I were in your place I would have it painted, in case of accident
