After a pause of some duration, he took both Candles' hands in his, and gazing into his face with an intentness which greatly embarrassed him, he said:—
"Monsieur, my dear monsieur, let us send for a bottle or two of the excellent Braune wine you know of. Alas! I might have drunk my fill of it if I had been governor a little longer, and I will even go so far as to admit that my predilection for that vintage led me to apply for that position in preference to any other. God punishes me for my gluttony."
"I shall be glad to join you," said Canolles.
"Very good, and as we drink we will talk; if what I have to tell you is not very pleasant, the wine will be good at least, and one will make up for the other."
Canolles knocked on the door, but there was no response; he knocked still louder, and a child, who was playing in the corridor, came to the door.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Wine," said Canolles; "tell your papa to bring two bottles."
The child ran off, and a moment later returned to say:
"Papa is busy talking with a gentleman just now; he will come very soon."
"Will you let me ask you a question, my dear?" said Cauvignac.