Here Monsieur Chamoureau drew his handkerchief and blew his nose at great length.
"You did very well to come, Monsieur Chamoureau. Come to the fire and warm yourself."
"Sapristi! how fine you are, Chamoureau! You have a brand-new coat, I do believe, and trousers too, eh?"
"Yes; one must dress decently."
"We think of amusing ourselves, Monsieur Chamoureau, that is true; but it's not a crime. And you yourself, if you could divert your thoughts in our company, where would be the harm?"
"I, divert my thoughts! Ah! Monsieur Edmond, when a man has met with such a loss as mine, there is no possible distraction. It is all over; I must bid pleasure adieu forever."
"Forever! that's a terribly long time. It's two months already since you lost your wife."
"Two months and four days, monsieur; and it seems to me as if it were yesterday. Ask Freluchon if I didn't tell him so when I dined with him to-day."
"You did; you said it while we were eating that lobster with Marengo sauce, that was so good."
"A little too much garlic, my friend, a little too much garlic; it was pretty well seasoned, but you can get it even better at Javault's on Rue de Rivoli, opposite the Hôtel de Ville."