"What is that?"
"Your defence of Victor Hugo."
"Why not? I like him and admire him."
"A colleague!" said the critic in a tone of profound pity, and shrugging his shoulders.
"Take your seats, gentlemen!" shouted the conductor.
We remounted, the editor of the Journal des Débats inside, I in the coupé, and the diligence resumed a monotonous trot, to meditation.
[1] I resolutely stuck to this decision until the time when my great friendship with Maquet determined me to spring the surprise upon him of putting forth his name with mine as the author of the drama of Les Mousquetaires. This was but fair, however, since we did not only the drama, but also the romance, in collaboration. I am delighted to be able to add, that, although we have not worked together now for a couple of years, the friendship is just the same, at all events on my side.