"Not too much so, indeed—but—"
"Well. If such excellent fish and meat were not to be procured there, it would hardly be endurable."
"Yes; I came to—"
"I am listening. Only just allow me to take something to drink. One gets thirsty in Paris:" and he ordered a bottle of champagne to be brought; and, having first filled Raoul's glass, he filled his own, drank it down at a gulp, and then resumed; "I needed that, in order to listen to you with proper attention. I am now quite at your service. What have you to ask me, dear Raoul? What do you want?"
"Give me your opinion upon quarrels in general, my dear friend."
"My opinion! Well—but—— Explain your idea a little," replied Porthos, rubbing his forehead.
"I mean—you are generally good-humored, or good-tempered, whenever any misunderstanding may arise between a friend of yours and a stranger, for instance?"
"Very good; but what do you do in such a case?"
"Whenever any friend of mine has a quarrel, I always act upon one principle."