"Ah! by Jove! then we shall see," said Charras.
"You are going to try and be very eloquent, I hope?"
"Rather! Hurrah for Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, the Grand Army and the devil and his horns! I cannot help touching him, unless his heart be encircled with three layers of steel, as Horace says."
"And suppose it is?"
"In that case.... Ah! I don't know! But then ... Oh, hang it all, man, you worry me with all your 'ifs'!"
"Never mind. Just answer that question: suppose he isn't touched?"
"Well! Shan't we still have the Bourget post-master's spring crucifixes to fall back on? We will play on them. Upon my word and honour, anybody would think you did not know the air!"
"Of course, I do!"
"If so, why are you quibbling?"
"I wished to know if you had really decided on anything."