Volume Ii Part 57 (1/2)
”Not such an a.s.s! He lifted that enormous man as if he was a feather!
Peste! he's too strong!”
XXI
CONSPIRACY
The scene that had taken place in the card-room brought Thelenie's fete to an end. Monsieur Droguet's nose was crushed and three of his teeth were broken; and his wife persistently exclaimed:
”They were the last he had!”
Chamoureau, who had seen only the end of the episode, and who was excessively annoyed to be called by his true name before his guests, ran from one to another, saying:
”Why, what has happened here? How did all this come about? Has there been a quarrel?”
”Better than that! The stout gentleman yonder was struck.”
”Struck! by whom? Freluchon?”
”No, by his friend--the young man who was playing ecarte with the baron.”
Chamoureau thereupon bustled up to the former wine merchant, who was feeling his ribs.
”What's this I hear? Edmond Didier struck you?”
”Yes, monsieur! but he shall pay me dear for it; that blow will cost him his life!”
”What! you mean to fight with him?”
”Is it possible to doubt it?” cried Thelenie; ”show me the man who would not fight after receiving a blow--unless he chose to be disgraced forever.”
”Oh! I will fight, madame; you may be perfectly sure that I will fight.”
”And I trust that you will kill that scoundrel who broke my husband's teeth!--Come, Droguet, let us go. What in the world are you looking for, on the floor and under the tables?”
”I am looking for my teeth.”
”Mon Dieu! what's the use? you don't imagine you can glue them in again, do you?--Oh! what a scene!”
”Monsieur de Belleville, you will be one of my witnesses[E], of course.”
[E] Luminot uses the word _temoin_ which means either a second (in a duel) or a witness.
”A witness--what for?”
”For my duel.”
”But I can't be a witness, for I was not here; I didn't hear the quarrel.”