66 STORIES FROM DAUDET

came back from the court of Naples.
His term of absence was not finished,
but he had heard that the Chief
Mustard-bearer to the Pope had just
died suddenly in Avignon, and as he
thought the place would suit him, he
hurried back to put in his claim.
When this artful Védtne came into the
audience-chamber, the Pope hardly
knew him, he had grown so tall and
stout. It is true the good Pope had
grown older too, and that he saw badly
without his spectacles. Tistet was no
whit abashed.

‘What, Holy Father, don’t you
know me? It is I, Tistet Védéne!’

‘Védene ?’

‘Certainly ; you remember I used to
carry French wine to your mule.’

‘Ah! yes, yes. I.remember. . .
A good little boy was Tistet Védéne.
And what do you want now?’ ;

‘Oh! not much, Holy Father. I
came to ask you... by the bye, is
your mule still alive? ... Ah! so