"Young man, young man! at your age you ought not to waste a single moment."
"I am quite of your opinion, monsieur, and you will be convinced of my industry if you will let me finish...."
"Ah! ah!"
"I want to know if I may work at my tragedy in my spare time?"
Notice that I said tragedy instead of drama; I did not wish to frighten M. Bichet.
"Are you composing a tragedy, then?" he said.
"Hum!... I do not know whether I ought to tell you."
"Why not? I see no harm in it. My old friend Pieyre has written a comedy."
"Yes, monsieur, and a very striking one it is: l'École des Pères."
"You know it?"