1. A tall handsome fellow with a fair moustache was sipping a glass of brandy by the side of a short thin woman as yellow as a quince.
2. “The gentleman is so short,” said he, pointing to me, “that I mistook him at first for a pupil.”
3. Thereupon they began to speak in a low voice, casting sidelong glances at me.
4. Right at the back of the study a man was writing by the pale light of a lamp.
5. When he had finished his work, the headmaster turned to me.
6. “Why! this is a child!” he exclaimed; “what do they want me to do with a child?”
7. After reading the letter he told me that he consented to keep me, although he had fears as to my inexperience.
8. The main point is that the thing should be done at once.
9. I could have wished him to have had a thousand hands in order to kiss them all.
10. A man with red whiskers had just entered the room without anyone having heard him.