"See the jolly fellow," exclaimed Simon, "that is splendid."
"I will show you at once that you do smoke," continued Toulan.
"Madame, if you will do me the honor to join me in smoking a cigar,
I will give you my word as a republican and a sans-culottes, that
neither I nor my brothers will ever smoke here again."
"I do not believe you," said the queen, shaking her head.
"Not believe me? Would you believe it if the citizen Simon were to repeat it?"
"Yes," said the queen, fixing her great, sad eyes upon Simon, "if the citizen Simon should confirm it, I would believe it, for he is a trustworthy man, who I believe; never breaks his word."
"Oh! only see how well the Austrian understands our noble brother
Simon," cried Lepitre.
"Yes, truly, it seems so," said Simon, who had been flattered by this praise to consent to what he had no inclination for. "Well, I give my word to Widow Capet, as a republican and a sans-culottes, that there shall be no smoking in the anteroom after this time, if she will do my friend Toulan the favor of smoking a pipe of peace with him."
"I believe your word," said the queen, with a gentle inclination of her head; and then turning to Toulan, she continued, "sir—"
"There are no 'sirs' here, only 'citizens,'" interrupted the cobbler.
"Citizen Toulan," said the queen, changing her expression, "give me the cigar, I see that I was wrong, I do smoke!"