“Yes, sir.”
“A home off your own?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you villing to take me for ein poarder? Oh! I shall pay ver’ vell; I haf nine hundert vrancs of inkomm, und—I haf not ver’ long ter lif.... I shall gif no drouble vatefer.... I can eat onydings—I only vant to shmoke mein bipe. Und—you are der only von dat haf shed a tear for Bons, mit me; und so, I lof you.”
“I should be very glad, sir; but, to begin with, M. Gaudissart has given me a proper wigging—”
“Vigging?”
“That is one way of saying that he combed my hair for me.”
“Combed your hair?”
“He gave me a scolding for meddling in your affairs.... So we must be very careful if you come to me. But I doubt whether you will stay when you have seen the place; you do not know how we poor devils live.”
“I should rader der boor home of a goot-hearted mann dot haf mourned Bons, dan der Duileries mit men dot haf ein tiger face.... I haf chust left tigers in Bons’ house; dey vill eat up everydings—”