"Yes, monsieur, very tired and very dissatisfied! they'll never catch me in their Moorish kings' fortress again."
And Galuchet, recalling with pride his jest of the morning, repeated complacently and with a cunning smile:
"Those kings must have cut a curious figure! doubtless they wore clogs and ate with their fingers."
"You are very bright to-night, Galuchet," rejoined Monsieur Cardonnet, not deigning to smile; "but, smitten as you are, if you were brighter you would find some pretext for calling on old Châteaubrun from time to time."
"I need no pretexts, monsieur," replied Galuchet in an important tone. "I am well acquainted with him; he has often invited me to fish in his stream, and again to-day he urged me to go to breakfast with him some Sunday."
"Very well, why don't you go? I am glad to allow you a little recreation from time to time."
"You are too kind, monsieur; if you don't need me, I will go next Sunday, for I am very fond of fishing."
"Galuchet, my boy, you are an idiot!"
"What's that, monsieur?" said Galuchet, disconcerted.
"I tell you, my dear fellow, you are an idiot," Cardonnet calmly repeated. "You think of nothing but catching gudgeons, when you might be paying court to a pretty girl."