They arrived at Porte Saint-Mandé, where they alighted from the cab and walked into the woods. It was a cold, dull morning; it was not nine o'clock, and they met nobody.
"We are ahead of time," said Cherami, "but I prefer to be. Above all things, my boys, be very polite to the men we are waiting for: take your hats off and bow, and don't put them on again till after they do."
"What if they don't put 'em on at all?"
"Never fear—they will. Now, we have nothing to do but walk back and forth and wait."
"Why don't we go and take a glass of wine at the nearest inn, while we wait?"
"Dame!" said the apprentice; "I'm with you for a glass of wine!"
"But I am not with you, not by any means, messieurs. After the fight, you shall drink as much as you please, but not before."
"We might treat the others to a glass when they come; that's polite, you know!"
"The gentlemen who are coming don't drink at wine-shops!—No fool's tricks, sacrebleu! or you'll compromise me! But, see! that carriage coming along the road yonder is probably bringing our adversaries. It's a private carriage—the count's, no doubt. Yes, those are they. Attention, my seconds! Well, well, what in the devil are you doing? Taking off your hats before the gentlemen have left their carriage!"
"You told us to be polite."