“But the regulations?”
“Never mind them. To-day my major has leave of absence; the lieutenant is visiting the post on the bastions; we are sole masters of the situation.”
“No, no, my dear governor; why, the very idea of the sound of the bolts makes me shudder. You will only have to forget me in second or fourth Bertaudiere, and then——”
“You are refusing an opportunity that may never present itself again. Do you know that, to obtain the favor I propose to you gratis, some of the princes of the blood have offered me as much as fifty thousand francs.”
“Really! he must be worth seeing, then?”
“Forbidden fruit, my lord, forbidden fruit. You who belong to the church ought to know that.”
“Well, if I had any curiosity, it would be to see the poor author of the distich.”
“Very well, we will see him, too; but if I were at all curious, it would be about the beautiful carpeted room and its lodger.”
“Furniture is very commonplace; and a face with no expression in it offers little or no interest.”
“But a boarder at fifteen francs is always interesting.”