"Well, my dear boy, are you going to confine yourself to putting your nose on all the bouquets? Thanks! You may sprinkle 'em, but that's not the kind of dampness that keeps 'em fresh. Come, buy this bunch!"
"No, I have no victims to sacrifice to-day; unless you would like to be one—eh, hussy?"
"Stop that! You're too puffy for me! I don't like wax figures; I should be afraid you'd melt in my arms!"
Albert and Célestin roared with laughter at the wry face which Tobie made when he received this compliment from the flower girl. Having tried once more to place his glass in his right eye, he cast a disdainful glance at Mademoiselle Bastringuette, saying:
"You are like your flowers, my dear; when one looks at you too close, he sees that he would be cheated."
"Dame! that's not like you! one has only to glance at you to be satisfied that he gets nothing for his money."
Tobie's two friends laughed louder than ever; and he concluded to try to laugh with them, saying:
"The devil! we're dealing with a good fighter! I fancy I shall not have the last word with her."
"Not the last word nor anything else, my little fat man. Dame! all the pleasure we poor girls have is with our tongue! We must make the most of it, for it don't cost anything."
"Take care! The tongue is the best and the worst part of us. Æsop said that."