"You are sure?"
"Yes."
"Good.... And for heads of departments, chief assistants, inspectors and sub-inspectors, oblong letters and English envelopes."
I repeated, "Oblong letters and English envelopes."
"Yes, yes, of course.... There, that is what we call an English envelope."
"Thank you, monsieur."
"Now the seal.... Ernest, will you light me a taper?" Ernest hastened to bring us the lighted taper; and now, I confess to my shame, my confusion increased: I had never hitherto sealed my letters except with wafers—that is to say, when I had sealed them.
I took the wax in so awkward a fashion, I heated it in such a queer way, I blew it out so quickly, for fear of burning the paper, that this time I excited pity rather than impatience in the breast of M. de Broval.
"Oh! my friend," he said, "have you really never even sealed a letter?"