“This discovery does him great credit!”
“It’s as simple as good-day; and no one ever thought of it!”
“Here’s to Monsieur de Belleville’s scientific discovery!”
Freluchon rose and said:
“I propose to add hereafter to the name of Monsieur de Belleville that of Silvestre, derived from Sylvestris, which means woods, trees, forests. Let us drink then to the health of Monsieur de Belleville-Silvestre! the grateful stumps!”
“What do you mean by stumps?”
“I mean, in the name of the grateful stumps.”
Chamoureau was radiant; he had no suspicion that he was being laughed at, and received in all seriousness the compliments that were paid him.
But Thélénie, who was less entertained by this comedy, soon said to him:
“I believe, monsieur, that you informed me that you had something else in store—something that would be agreeable to me. I trust that it has nothing to do with trees?”