Volume Ii Part 51 (2/2)
POLICHINELLE--_aside_.--Where in the devil do they raise magistrates of this sort! Ah! I know; I must grease his paw.--_Aloud._--Monsieur le commissaire, if I should offer you this gold five-franc piece to call me De la Carrossiere----
THE MAGISTRATE.--What's this! You try to corrupt an officer of the law!
You are a rascal! a scoundrel! an impertinent fellow!
POLICHINELLE.--I won't do it again, monsieur le commissaire.
THE MAGISTRATE.--Your wife and a ci and a ca!
POLICHINELLE.--A _scie_[D]; that may be, monsieur le commissaire; but as to a ca--I don't believe a word of it.
[D] Slang for _wife_; p.r.o.nounced like _ci_.
THE MAGISTRATE.--I have come to warn you concerning her disorderly life.
POLICHINELLE.--You needn't have put yourself out for that, monsieur le commissaire.
THE MAGISTRATE.--Every night she comes home with two lovers.
POLICHINELLE.--Impossible, monsieur le commissaire! I always wait for her in the concierge's lodge; she comes home alone.
THE MAGISTRATE.--She conceals her lovers under her hoop-skirt, monsieur.
POLICHINELLE.--Oh! mon Dieu! what do you tell me, monsieur le commissaire! and she talks of wearing a steel skirt now in addition!
Does the woman propose to smuggle a whole regiment into my house?
Thelenie, not finding the scene to her taste, rose hurriedly, saying:
”It seems to me, mesdames, that we have had enough of the marionettes; there are other amus.e.m.e.nts awaiting us in the garden, and it will not be long before dinner.”
Everybody followed the hostess with alacrity. The Theatre de Guignol was deserted, and Monsieur Courty said to Freluchon when he put his head out over the canvas:
”There's no one here, my dear fellow; you have emptied the house--_fait four_.”
”On the contrary, I have fired my shot--_fait feu_.”
The wooden horses, the Egyptian bird, the swings, the little Russian mountains and other diversions engaged the attention of the company until dinner was announced.
The table was laid in an enormous tent which had been pitched for that purpose in the garden, and which was large enough to contain all the guests.
Croque had sedulously avoided Freluchon since the latter had introduced him to the man who spoke German. But when they repaired to the table, the little man succeeded in obtaining a seat next the _soi-disant_ baron. The latter made a slight grimace when he saw who his neighbor was; but Freluchon at once said to him:
”I fixed it so as to sit by you at table; that was rather agreeable on my part, eh, baron?”
”It was exceedingly amiable of you!”
<script>