"Ah! my dear cosmopolitan, how are you to-day? Don't you want to accompany me to Brussels? I have just bought gold for the journey; gold is very high, fifteen per cent."
I answered by one of those listless smiles and unintelligible monosyllables which signifies in every language under the sun, don't bore me.
In the meantime I remained immovable, with my eyes fastened on the Chinese store. I could have detected the flight of an atom.
My friend struck the attitude of the Colossus of Rhodes, and supporting his chin upon the gold head of his cane which he held in the air clenched by both hands, thus continued: "I did a very foolish thing this morning. I bought my wife a horse, a Devonshire horse, from the Crémieux stables.... That reminds me, my dear Roger, you are the very man to decide a knotty question for me. I bet D'Allinville thirty louis that ... what would you call a lady's horse?"
For some moments I preserved that silence which shows that we are not in a humor for talking; but friends sent by ingenious Chance understand nothing but the plainest language, so my friend continued his queries:
"What would you call a lady's horse?"
"I would call it a horse," said I, with indifference.
"Now, Roger, I believe you are right; D'Allinville insists that a lady's horse is a palfrey."
"In the language of chivalry he is right."
"Then I have lost my bet?"