"Ah! indeed!"
"Alexandre!"
"I would like to settle that question. I bet you will not ring."
"Alexandre!"
She hung on to the bell-rope and rang loudly. I flung myself into an arm-chair and began laughing like a madman. The chambermaid came in.
"Louise!" said Dorval, with perfect dignity, "fetch a glass of water for M. Dumas."
"Louise!... in a wash-hand basin," I added.
"Impertinent fellow!" said Dorval.
She threw herself upon me and hit me with all her strength. Just when she was beating me with the greatest avidity, someone rang the outdoor bell. She stopped short.