"This soup is delicious!" cried young Callé, who had his programme by heart, and knew that he must find everything excellent.
"And the radishes too!" muttered Aldegonde; "my servant has certainly been helping herself!"
"We must all live," said Dodichet. "May I ask you to drink a glass of wine with me?"
After drinking, Dodichet made a wry face.
"Excellent burgundy!" cried Callé.
"But terribly weak!" rejoined Dodichet. "However, perhaps this bottle wasn't well corked."
Monsieur Miflorès ate and drank, and still did not say a word. Meanwhile Juliette, whose fears were all done away with by Dodichet's confidential communication, spoke to her neighbor occasionally, as she offered him something. The soi-disant count contented himself with bowing as he took what she offered, but did not speak.
"Your friend is very silent," Aldegonde observed to Dodichet; "he hasn't a word to say to my stepdaughter, although she seems to be very amiable to him—which is a great surprise to me, I must confess."
"She probably finds monsieur le comte to her liking," said Madame Putiphar; "he's a very fine-looking man, and no mistake."