CHAPTER LXXXI.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LITTLE ROOM.
When the captain re-entered the room with a basket in his hand containing a dozen bottles, he was received by Chicot with smiles. Borromée was in haste to uncork his bottles, but his haste was nothing to Chicot's; thus the preparations did not take long, and the two companions began to drink. At first, as though their occupation was too important to be interrupted, they drank in silence. Chicot uttered only these words:
"Par ma foi! this is good Burgundy."
They drank two bottles in this way; at the third, Chicot raised his eyes to heaven, and said:
"Really, we are drinking as though we wished to intoxicate ourselves."
"It is so good," replied Borromée.
"Ah! it pleases you. Go on, friend; I have a strong head."
And each of them swallowed another bottle. The wine produced on each of them an opposite effect—it unloosened Chicot's tongue, and tied that of Borromée.
"Ah!" murmured Chicot, "you are silent; then you doubt yourself."