Part 36 (1/2)

”You did not drink a gla.s.s that time,” remarked the stout gendarme, ”you had a hogshead.”

The tall man scowled.

”Well, there's plenty of this,” said Gaillard; ”have another gla.s.s?”

”We will,” said both of the gendarmes. ”Let us have a few of the funny lines of your new part, citizen actor,” said the stout gendarme swallowing his third gla.s.s of Burgundy.

”Willingly!” exclaimed Gaillard. He turned toward the chimney-piece and took from it the ma.n.u.script of his part. Close beside it lay the letter.

His fingers itched to take it, but the eyes of the police officers were upon him so closely that he dared not touch it.

”Let us fill our gla.s.ses again before I begin,” said the actor, producing another bottle from the closet.

”How many bottles of that wine have you?” inquired the tall gendarme.

”Two more besides this,” answered Gaillard, drawing the cork.

”We might as well drink them all, now that we are here,” said the officer solemnly.

”It would be a pity to leave any of it,” Gaillard acquiesced.

The short gendarme nodded his approval.

”I wish I had a hogshead of it,” thought Gaillard. ”I'd put you both in bed and leave you.”

After filling the gla.s.ses once again, Gaillard took up the lines and began to act out his part. If he had been playing before a large and enthusiastic audience, he could not have done it more effectively.

The stout gendarme was soon in such a state of laughter that the tears ran down his red cheeks. His merriment continued to increase to such an extent as to alarm his companion.

”He'll die of apoplexy some day, if he is so immoderate in his raptures,” said the tall man, shaking his head sadly.

The fat gendarme was now coughing violently. Gaillard stopped to slap him on the back. When the paroxysm was over, the actor brought out the two remaining bottles of Burgundy.

”A little of this wine may relieve your throat,” he said, and filled the gla.s.ses all round.

”Continue, my friend,” called out the jolly-faced officer; ”don't stop on my account.”

Gaillard went on with his rehearsal. The tall gendarme drank twice as much wine as his stout companion, who was now rolling on the floor with shouts of laughter.

Finally, when the merry fellow could laugh no more, and the last drop of wine had disappeared, the tall gendarme stooped, and lifting his fallen companion to his feet leaned him up against the wall. ”Jean,” he said, ”thou art drunk. Shame upon thee.” Then he turned toward Gaillard.

”Come, citizen actor, we must take you to the Luxembourg.”

”Let us at least smoke a pipe of tobacco before we go,” said Gaillard, bringing out smoking materials from the closet.

”No time, citizen; as it is we may get in trouble through Jean's indulgence in the bottle.” The short gendarme certainly showed the effect of the wine he had taken, though he straightened up and denied it.

”Pierre, thou liest, thou hast taken twice the quant.i.ty I have,” he rejoined, waving his hand toward the empty bottles.

This also was true; and Gaillard looked with wonder at the solemn countenance of the tall gendarme.

”In any case, let us light our pipes and smoke them as we go along the street,” said the actor as he filled the pipes and handed one to each of the police officers.