"Excellent, excellent!" said Von Barwig, rubbing his hands, and going over to the window he pulled up the blind.
"He falls into our trap very easily," whispered Pinac to Fico; "but be careful!"
Poons looked on and smiled as usual.
"I should like nothing better," said Von Barwig. "You shall all dine with me," and before his friends could remonstrate he had invited Poons to the banquet.
"But I asked you!" said Pinac.
"He ask you," repeated Fico.
"I ask you; we all ask you," asserted Pinac.
"In my apartment!" demanded Von Barwig, with some slight show of dignity. "Come, come! The matter is settled. It is good to have old friends at the table. We won't go to the restaurant; it's too noisy there; we shall dine here. Galazatti will send over a dinner without extra charge, if we order enough."
"I am not hungry," began Fico, but Von Barwig silenced him with a look.
"Then please find your appetite at once," he said.