"Messieurs," said Dupétrain, with his elbows still on the table, "I was about to tell you a very curious anecdote.—A young woman, whose husband was travelling, desired to know whether, when he was away from her——"
"Silence! No more stories! here comes the champagne!—Well, Albert, why don't you drink? You are not in good spirits."
"Because my messenger doesn't come," replied the young dandy, with a sigh which he extinguished in a glass of champagne.
"Nor mine, either," said Tobie; "but I don't care! he'll come in time. Meanwhile, let us drink and laugh and sing! Champagne till we drop! They treat you mighty well here."
"Yes, you seem to be getting along very well," said the artist, with a smile.
"Spare yourself, Pigeonnier, my boy; or else you'll make a fiasco, in spite of your letter of recommendation."
"I! why I could drink champagne all day without getting drunk; I am so used to it!"
Again the waiter appeared, and said:
"There's a messenger for Monsieur Albert Vermoncey."
"Ah! it's for me this time!" exclaimed the young man, springing to his feet. "I am coming! I am coming!"