"I venture to hope that he will talk at dessert."
Dodichet leaned back and struck his friend on the shoulder.
"Well, Miflorès," he said, "haven't you anything to say to your neighbors? they're surprised at your silence."
"I don't like to talk when I'm eating," replied the person addressed, whose mouth was, in fact, full.
"Oh! what exquisite fish!" cried Callé, who had just been served with pike.
"It's a pity it has so many bones," said Dodichet.
At that moment, Madame Brid'oison began to cough as if she were strangling.
"Well! well! my wife has swallowed a bone!" said Brid'oison.
But Égilde informed him by signs that it was not that which made her cough, but one of her corkscrew curls which had got into her mouth.
"Oh! in that case, I've no sympathy for you. What an absurd idea it is for women to wear their hair so long!"