“Wait. You’ll hear better if your glass is full than if it’s empty.”
“Are you a doctor for deaf folk?” asked the postilion, banteringly.
“No; but I’ve lived a good deal among drunkards,” replied Montbar, filling Antoine’s glass again.
“A man is not a drunkard because he likes wine,” said Antoine.
“I agree with you, my good fellow,” replied Montbar. “A man is only a drunkard when he can’t carry his liquor.”
“Well said,” cried Antoine, who seemed to carry his pretty well. “I’m listening.”
“You told me that you didn’t understand why I had sent for you.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Still, you must have suspected that I had an object?”
“Every man has an object, good or bad, according to our priest,” observed Antoine, sententiously.