124 THE SHIPWRECK,

not suffer you to treat me with as much formality and
respect as if I were the king of France himself.”

“‘ My lord,” replied Philip, “if you knew the pleasure I
experience in rendering you these petty services, you
would not wish to deprive me of it, and nothing but an
absolute prohibition shall hinder their continuance.”

“How noble are your sentiments, Merville ! however,
it is not my province to forbid or order any thing. Here I
am in no point of view your superior.”

“Again, my lord?” cried Philip, turning aside his face.

“ Here,” resumed the count, “in every thing I am your
inferior, My dear Merville, you must not take it amiss if
I refuse to live at the expense of your industry, as long as
IT have arms similar to your own. What say you, Philip,
are you willing to take under your guidance an awkward,
clumsy creature like myself, and make a good scholar of
me Pp

Philip replied, “I can refuse you nothing ; ; but as your
illness has left you so debilitated, you should do nothing
that can fatigue you.”

So saying, he began to serve out the turtle which the
count had prepared for breakfast, chiding him all the time
for having assumed the office of cook.

The count jocosely observed that the success he met