"Very well! order some beer."
"Beer! oh, no! that's too vulgar; punch, rather."
"Who ever heard of drinking punch just before dinner?"
"Why not? all hours are alike to good fellows!—Punch, waiter! rum punch—and see that it's good; say it's for a connoisseur.—Won't you have a glass of punch, too, my dear Lucien? it warms you up and makes you lively!"
"No, thanks; I won't take anything; I don't need anything."
"Oh! yes, you do; pardieu! you'll take some punch with us; just remember that it is I who invite you!"
"But I'll answer for it that it won't be he who will pay," said Adhémar, in an undertone.
However, when the punch was brought, they all concluded to partake. Dodichet immediately poured out a second glass for himself, humming:
"'J'en veux goûter encore, pour en être certain.'"
But Adhémar silenced him by saying: