“Oui, monsieur, un peu.”
“Comment vous portez vous, Monsieur Alphonse?”
“Très beaucoup bien,” answered Alphonso, proudly.
“What an accent!” exclaimed the count, raising both hands. “You do speak like one native.”
“I think I should soon learn it if I were in la belle France,” said Alphonso, much pleased.
“Gentlemen,” said Mr. Ingalls, “I don’t like to interrupt you, but permit me to offer you a glass of wine.”
Glasses were handed to the company.
“Mr. Jones, will you propose the count’s health?” asked the host. Alphonso rose, and placed one hand on his heart.
“Gentlemen,” he commenced, “I feel—ahem! deeply honored, and—and happy on this auspicious occasion. We are assembled, sir, to do honor to an illustrious peer of the realm. The noble Count Ernest de Montmorency honors us with his high-toned presence. We all hope that he may enjoy his visit, and return in safety to his aristocratic relations, his honorable mother, and his sister, the noble Countess Marie de Montmorency. I propose the health of the noble count.”
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.