“Ha! ha! ha! Buddhism!”
Madame de Noares lifted up her hands: “Buddhism!”
“What! Buddhism!” repeated the count.
“Do you understand it?” said Pécuchet to M. Jeufroy, who had become confused. “Well, then, learn something about it. Better than Christianity, and before it, it has recognised the nothingness of earthly things. Its practices are austere, its faithful more numerous than the entire body of Christians; and, as for incarnation, Vishnu had not merely one, but nine of them. So judge.”
“Travellers’ lies!” said Madame de Noares.
“Backed up by the Freemasons!” added the curé.
And all talking at the same time:
“Come, then, go on!”
“Very pretty!”
“For my part, I think it funny!”