"Because, aunt, I am perfectly sure it's something else."
"In my judgment," interposed Cherami, "objet charmant should be allowed to remain; the expression is most appropriate."
The old aunt was so delighted by the compliment, that she left her seat and embraced her guest again.
"That will teach me to hold my tongue!" said Cherami to himself.
"Come, monsieur; go on with your poetry," continued Madame Capucine.
"'De vous—de vous—fêter en ce moment,'"
began Narcisse.
"You see!" cried Madame Capucine; "I knew it wasn't objet charmant."
"It's hardly worth while to interrupt just for that, niece. Go on, my boy."
But young Aristoloche had entered the dining-room, holding in his arms a little white rabbit, which he was tickling with a stick. That spectacle sadly distracted the attention of Master Narcisse, whom his mother continued to threaten with the switch to make him finish his lines. But Narcisse, as he recited, kept turning to look at his brother.