Whereupon my gentleman went to the hostess, took her hand, and kissed it several times.
"What does that mean; does he expect to marry my wife?" thought Monsieur Mirotaine.
But Aldegonde did not find that pantomime unpleasant; she smiled at Miflorès, thinking that he was about to ask for her stepdaughter's hand; but he simply bowed and said:
"There's another pickle under that chair."
Monsieur Callé hastened to pick it up and carry it to Mirotaine, who put it in his pocket, saying to Monsieur Callé:
"You don't let things lie round; you'll make your way."
Dodichet tried hard to enliven the company, and to that end resorted frequently to the decanter containing brandy, the only liqueur that was offered the guests; he helped himself to several glasses, and even went so far as to offer some to the others. Monsieur Mirotaine witnessed this procedure with impatience.
"That fellow makes too free with my brandy," he muttered; "that's the third time he's gone back to it; he pours it out as if he were in his own house! Very bad manners, I call it! I must try to take the decanter away without my wife's seeing me."
The arrival of several of the guests invited for the evening enabled Monsieur Mirotaine to carry out his plan.