“That doesn’t prove anything, uncle; I didn’t buy those hooks for myself.”
“For whom did you buy them, then?”
“For my brother, who means to go fishing in the Canal de l’Ourcq on Sunday.”
“You’re the most shameless liar I know. I’ll bet that you bought a theatre check to-night, and that you’ve been to see the end of some play.”
“You know perfectly well that I haven’t got any money, uncle.”
“Oh! you always have money to go to the theatre and to stuff yourself. Come, monsieur, fill the glasses and pass them round to the ladies.”
“That’s it!” muttered the little nephew, turning angrily on his heel; “as soon as I get home, I have to be uncle’s servant, they’d better get a negro. And then, the first thing in the morning, aunt sends me to get her milk and her fuel, and lights for her cat.”
“You seem to be arguing the matter!” said Madame Vauvert, pinching Friquet’s arm; “there! that’s to teach you to grumble.”
“Ow! how mean to pinch me like that, aunt! I shall be black and blue for a week.”
“So much the better!”