“Monsieur, I haven’t an idea——”
“We are going now, but I shall return to this neighborhood; and I shall remember Master Bonneau, pupil of the Boisseau Fleuri, who supplies wedding and other parties at the Epée Couronnée.”
With that, Edouard left his host and rejoined the ladies, who were prepared to leave the dining-room.
“Let us go, mesdames,” said Edouard, “let us leave this house at once! and consider yourselves fortunate that you did not eat the soufflé.”
“Why, what was the matter with it?”
“I will tell you about it later; the most important thing now is to leave the house of this infernal poisoner.”
Edouard took Adeline’s hand, Madame Germeuil followed them, and they were about to leave the inn, when the proprietor ran after them and stopped them.
“One moment, mesdames and monsieur,” said Master Bonneau, pushing his cotton cap to the back of his head, “one moment, if you please; it seems to me that before leaving a restaurant you ought to pay for your dinner.”
“Our dinner! Parbleu! monsieur le traiteur, you will be decidedly clever if you prove to us that we have dined!”
“I served all that you ordered, monsieur; if you didn’t eat it, that’s none of my business!”