Volume Ii Part 63 (1/2)
”If you think that my presence will be of any service, let us go.”
”Just give me time to put on a coat and waistcoat and a cravat.”
”Go on! go on! I am in no hurry.”
”One, two!--what say you to that sword-thrust, eh?”
”Superb! you have made a hole in your part.i.tion!”
”And this sabre cut--pan! paf!”
”Magnificent! Your wardrobe is all covered with gashes; it has seen some cruel work! Are you going to fight with sword and sabre?”
”I am tempted to choose pistols.”
”In that case, what's the use of making holes in your part.i.tion and hacking your wardrobe?”
”I don't know; I will see, I will reflect.--Monsieur de Belleville, your party was grand! and what a dinner you gave us!”
”There were some good things to eat!”
”In other words, there were dishes prepared with consummate art! I enjoyed among other things, a salmi of partridge, _aux truffes_----”
”With snipe!”
”Ah! there were snipe! that explains it; I said to myself that it had been kept just long enough!”
”And the mayonnaise of lobster?”
”And those white puddings _a la puree_ of chestnuts!”
The two worthies pa.s.sed the whole dinner in review, pausing to descant upon the dishes they had enjoyed most. This had lasted some time, when Monsieur Luminot exclaimed:
”Mon Dieu! and my duel!”
”I hoped he had forgotten it,” thought Chamoureau.
But it was after two o'clock when they went to Monsieur Remplume's house. The little lame man received them, coughing, spitting and sneezing as usual.
”You know about the scene that took place last evening at Monsieur de Belleville's ball, do you not?” asked Luminot, laying his hand on the lame man's shoulder.
”Yes, yes! I know all about it, it has made noise enough; no one is talking about anything else all over the country. Besides, I arrived just as you fell on top of poor Droguet; you knocked out three of his teeth!”
”Two!”
”Three! he found there was another one missing when he got home.”
”It isn't my fault; why did he happen to be under me when I fell?”
”That's so; hum! hum! hum! When I go to bed so late, it makes my cough worse.”