"Monsieur d'Herblay, you are still jesting, are you not?"
"Oh, yes! I understand that it is a more difficult position to have several masters than one; but the embarrassment is owing to you, my dear Baisemeaux, and I am not the cause of it."
"Certainly not," returned the unfortunate governor, more embarrassed than ever; "but what are you doing? You are leaving the table?"
"Assuredly."
"Are you going?"
"Yes, I am going."
"But you are behaving very strangely toward me, monseigneur."
"I am behaving strangely—how do you make that out?"
"Have you sworn, then, to put me to the torture?"
"No, I should be sorry to do so."