Volume I Part 59 (1/2)
”So this fellow has come back at last!” he cried.
”_Tandem!--denique!_--Do you know, Freluchon, that your treatment of me has been rather too unceremonious?”
”Good-morning, Chamoureau; embrace me!”
”To go away without returning my new black coat and trousers! You have no idea what that cost me!”
”Embrace your friend!”
”Let me alone.--The trousers were new, too.”
”Do you suppose that I have worn your clothes, I should like to know? do you think that I put on your coat and trousers to go to Rouen?”
”Faith! I don't know.”
”I should look very nice in them, as I'm five inches shorter than you!
See, there are your clothes, on that chair; I give you my word that they haven't been to Rouen.”
The agent carefully examined his coat and trousers, muttering:
”To think that I have two of each now! it was hardly worth while!”
”What! have you bought another black coat?”
”I had to.”
”Have you had occasion to take part in some grand function--a wedding, or a funeral?”
”I had occasion--I had occasion to be dressed handsomely.”
”Chamoureau, you have secrets from your best friend; that is not right.
I've brought you a stick of sugar-candy from Rouen.”
”Don't talk to me about candy, Freluchon, I beg you. You remind me of Mi-Careme night, which I would like to efface from my memory!”
”Why, I was under the impression that you made a magnificent conquest that night; you told us so, at all events.”
”Yes, that's so; I did meet a fascinating woman, and she gave me permission to call on her; but I've been no more fortunate for that.
Four times now within five days I have been to see her, in the hope of finding her less cruel; but I am always told that she isn't in. I begin to think that she doesn't propose to receive me again.”
”The trouble is that you didn't go about it right, my poor fellow. You were probably too prudent, too timid. There are women who prefer to have the appearance of yielding only to violence.”
”You see, my trousers split; that embarra.s.sed me the first time I called on her.”
”You ought to have worn an ap.r.o.n; then it wouldn't have made any difference about your trousers.”
”Freluchon, your constant jesting with a man so miserable as I am is barbarous; for my love for that woman gives me neither truce nor rest.”
”The deuce! and the memory of the adored Eleonore? have we left that under the shed?”