Volume I Part 6 (2/2)
The latter stopped at last, after a pirouette which he came very near ending on his nose, and, seeing that Edmond was roaring with laughter, he said:
”What on earth makes you laugh like that? Do you think I dance badly?”
”No, no! on the contrary, you leap like a chamois! But it occurred to me as I watched you going through your steps, that you might imitate your wife much better by going to the Opera ball with us.”
”Oh! upon my word!--you surely don't mean it, Monsieur Edmond! I, go to the Opera ball--with the burden of grief that I have on my heart!”
”Why, that is an additional reason: it will dissipate your grief.”
”Oh! never! on the contrary, nothing can dissipate it, and----”
Freluchon planted himself in front of Chamoureau and said, a.s.suming a very solemn expression:
”Look you, my dear fellow, do you expect to fool us much longer with your inconsolable grief?”
The widower stood thunderstruck and stammered:
”What's that! fool you! What does this mean? For what reason do you ask me that, Freluchon?”
”For the reason that, when a man really has a great sorrow in his heart, he doesn't laugh and sing and dance as you have just been doing; nor does he know where one should go to eat snipe _a la provencale_.”
”All that was in memory of Eleonore, and----”
”You regret your wife, I don't doubt that, and she was well worth the trouble. But I tell you again that you ask nothing better now than to be consoled, and above all to make new conquests.”
”Little devil of a Freluchon! What an astonis.h.i.+ng creature!--Do you really think that I might make conquests?”
”I will go so far as to promise you some to-night, if you come to the Opera with us.”
”To the Opera ball with you, my boys! Far be it from me to say that it would be distasteful to me, because, after all, one might as well listen to reason; a man always ends by being consoled, a little sooner or later; but the world is what I dread! What will the world say if I am seen at the masquerade, so short a time after--my calamity? The world is so unkind!”
”Parbleu! if you're afraid to be seen at the ball, there's one very simple means of avoiding it--disguise yourself.”
”True, that is an idea. But men don't wear masks, I believe.”
”No, but with a fancy costume, a wig, a little rouge and a false nose, I'll undertake to make you unrecognizable.”
”Oh! if you'll answer for that, it's all right, I'll run the risk and go with you. By the way, do you disguise yourselves?”
”Oh, no! it isn't worth while; we are not afraid to be recognized!”
”And where shall I find a costume?”
”I know a costumer where you will find a lot to choose from.”
”You see, Freluchon, from the moment that I make up my mind to disguise myself, I insist upon being well costumed; I want something that will favor me, something--er--original.”
”Let us go softly, Chamoureau, softly! Just now, you were afraid of being recognized, and now you want to attract attention!”
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