So saying, the doctor put his hand into his pocket, and brought out a black case, in which he looked for a knife to cut the fruit.
The young hussars broke out at once into a volley of oaths.
"My good sirs," cried the doctor, little moved by the storm he had raised, "has any one of you got a knife? Not one, I know. There is nothing to be found in your pockets but looking-glasses and brushes; and which of you understands the making of a bowl that a man of the world can drink? You can, indeed, empty one, but make it you can not."
"I will try what I can do, doctor," said Bolling, from a corner.
"Ah! Herr von Bolling, are you here too?" replied the doctor, with a bow.
Bolling took the pine-apple, and carefully held it out of reach of the medical arm. "Come here, Anton," said he, "and take care that that monster of a doctor does not approach our punch with his dissecting-knife."
While these two were brewing, the doctor took out two packs of cards, and solemnly laid them on the table.
"None of your cards!" cried Eugene; "to-day, at least, let us be together without sinning."
"You can't," said the doctor, mockingly; "you'll be the first to touch them. I thought of nothing but a quiet game at whist, a game for pious hermits. Time, however, will show what you will make of these packs; there they lie by the candlesticks."
"Don't listen to the tempter," cried one of the lieutenants, laughing.