"For my part, I believe that luck in one brings luck in the other. So look out for yourselves to-night."
"Messieurs," said Dupétrain, with his elbows on the table, and glaring at each of his companions in turn, in order to attract their attention, "I think that the time has come——"
"To put us to sleep?" cried Balivan.
"No; but to tell you about that extraordinary occurrence that I started to tell you a moment ago."
"I say, messieurs," said Mouillot; "we may as well let him tell his story; if we don't, he won't give us a moment's peace this evening.—Go on, Dupétrain; but if it lasts too long, you won't be allowed to finish it."
"Oh! messieurs, I am sure that the anecdote won't seem long to you; it's too interesting for that.—A young woman had a husband, who was travelling——"
"You have already told us that three times."
"This young woman was very desirous to know whether her husband, while he was away from her——"
"A messenger wants to speak to Monsieur Pigeonnier," said the waiter, at the door.
All the young men roared with laughter at the expression of Dupétrain's face when he was interrupted for the third time at the beginning of his story. But Tobie left the table, saying: