“No, don’t be alarmed, he is only drunk; and as that happens only once a month now, he doesn’t get drunk by halves. What an unfortunate chance, when I wanted to go away to-night.”
“Go away! Why monsieur has not ordered horses.”
“Can I not obtain horses at any hour at the post-house?”
“Oh, yes! but your servant here is in a fine state to start! I did not suppose that monsieur was thinking about going away.”
I went to Pettermann, I seized his arm and shook him, and called him by name.
“Prout! I am asleep,” murmured the tailor at last.
“But, my friend, I need you, so try to wake up.”
“Prout! I propose to drink enough to-day for a month; let me sleep; you can wake me when I am thirsty.”
It was utterly impossible for me to obtain a word more from him.
“I advise you, monsieur, to let your servant pass the night here,” said the girl; “he will be left in peace, nobody will disturb him. Anyway, you see that it would be hard to make him stir. You can’t take him away in this condition!”