M. Merivel, thus appealed to, delivered his first contribution to the chat in an unctuous bass.
"A first class position! Most admirable!" "Well! That sounds interesting!" and Laroque hitched his chair a little nearer.
The woman had just finished concocting a third glass of absinthe and now she rose with:
"I'll leave you to your business talk and go and unpack the trunk."
"Yes, do, my girl!" nodded her "life's companion," and she passed out with the drink and the package of cigarettes.
"Now then, to business!" said M. Perissard in slightly crisper tones when the door had closed.
"Right!"
"To begin with, I'm no longer a lawyer," declared M. Perissard.
"So I see," nodded Laroque. "According to your card you are now a Notary Public." His eyes twinkled.
Messrs. Perissard and Merivel laughed at the same moment and for precisely the same length of time. The Siamese Twins were in constant discord compared with these two.