All 35 Uses of

Monsieur

in

Queen of Babble

Is that Monsieur de Villiers, returned from Paris?†
*

Monsieur = Mr. or Sir (in French)

While renting out the main house, Luke's father—whom Shari refers to as Monsieur de Villiers—stays in a small thatched-roofed cottage near the outbuildings, where he keeps the oak casks of his wine before it's ready for bottling.†

Dominique turns around, looks at the old guy, and says, in a much pleasanter tone than I've ever heard her use before, "Why, yes, monsieur.†

I can't say I can really see a resemblance—Monsieur de Villiers's hair is wispy, not curly, like Luke's, and snow white, not dark.†

All I've had to eat today is a cappuccino, a Hershey bar sandwich, and a few dusty, not-very-ripe grapes Monsieur de Villiers picked for me when we were touring his vineyard.†

And there was the farmer to greet, and his gnarled hand to shake, and his incomprehensible French—after which Monsieur de Villiers asked how much I understood, and when I said none, caused him to laugh uproariously—to listen to.†

A guy like that—so patient and tolerant and sweet—deserves better than a girl who doesn't support his secret dreams.... "You are very old-fashioned," Monsieur de Villiers is saying, breaking in on my unkind thoughts about Luke's girlfriend.†

It has to be, Monsieur de Villiers told me, in order for the wine to ferment properly.†

But Monsieur de Villiers lays a comforting hand on my shoulder and says, "No, no. I do not mean to laugh at you.†

Which is how a few minutes later, after thanking the elder Monsieur de Villiers profusely for the lovely tour and dropping him off in the château's enormous—but, as Dominique mentioned, hardly high tech—kitchen, I find myself in the cobweb-filled attic with the younger Monsieur de Villiers, riffling through old trunks of clothes and trying unsuccessfully to contain my excitement.†

Which is how a few minutes later, after thanking the elder Monsieur de Villiers profusely for the lovely tour and dropping him off in the château's enormous—but, as Dominique mentioned, hardly high tech—kitchen, I find myself in the cobweb-filled attic with the younger Monsieur de Villiers, riffling through old trunks of clothes and trying unsuccessfully to contain my excitement.†

Monsieur de Villiers is quick to move in with a tray of champagne flutes he's had standing by, apparently in case of an emergency just like this one.†

When Monsieur de Villiers gets to Agnès, Dominique says something rather sharp in French and Luke's dad looks startled.†

And Monsieur de Villiers turns, spots me coming down the stairs, and breaks into a wide grin.†

of apple in it as a starter; then duck caramelized in some kind of delicious sweet sauce; a salad of baby lettuce in a garlicky dressing; and an enormous cheese platter, all of it accompanied by huge chunks of perfectly baked bread—crunchy and golden on the outside, soft and warm in the middle—and a wine to go with each course, poured by Monsieur de Villiers, who tries to tell us about each glass we're sampling but who keeps getting interrupted by Luke's aunt Ginny, who says things like "Speaking of bouquet, has anyone talked to that florist over in Sarlat?†

It is kind of sad, actually, to watch how excited Monsieur de Villiers is to have his wife back—even if only temporarily and even if only for her niece's wedding—and how totally unexcited she is to be back.†

I take in the woman's carefully knotted scarf—obviously Hermès—and light wool suit (she must be broiling in this heat) and say, "You must be a friend of Monsieur de Villiers, then?"†

Then she starts bawling all over again, and Craig, not looking in the least bothered by this, gently leads his parents to the vineyard, where Monsieur de Villiers happily shows them around the cavernous cask room.†

I can totally see why Monsieur de Villiers fell so much in love with her and is so depressed about her not feeling the same way about him.†

But before I have a chance to say another word, Monsieur de Villiers, looking spry in a cream-colored suit and tie, comes up to me, holding a bottle of champagne.†

The glasses we—and then all the wedding guests Monsieur de Villiers had brought through for subsequent tours—used are piled up beside a stone sink at the far end of the room.†

Definition:

French equivalent to the English Mr.

or:

French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)