"What nonsense!" said stout Julienne; "they're always in their place!"
"You see, I haven't any low tastes. I wouldn't go out with a man who didn't have gloves and trouser-straps!"
"Oho! she reminds me of that tall Hélène who used to work here, and had the brass to say to us: 'I don't go with any men but those that have red morocco boot tops; I don't have anything to say to a man who has black leather ones, because they don't go with patent-leather boots.'"
"I didn't know that honest men were canaille," retorted Elina, flushing with anger; "I thought no one was ever called by that name but villains and rascals."
"Hallo! here's Elina showing fight!" cried Laura; "dame! you attacked her on a sensitive spot. Bah! I've broken my needle; that's the fifth one to-day. That makes Euphémie laugh. It's very funny, ain't it?"
"Ha! ha! ha! five needles [aiguilles]! I thought she said five eels [anguilles]!"
"Oh! my dear, eels don't break; you can do whatever you please with eels—even to making a matelote."
"I know a song about 'em," said Julienne, "where it's said that eels are like young girls."
"The deuce! Potage has made me prick myself," rejoined Mademoiselle Laura; "she refers to something they sing at the Opéra-Comique:
| "'Eels and young girls alike, |
| All's fish that comes to my net.' |