"I beg your pardon," replied Tobie, filling his glass with champagne; "on the contrary, she loves me too well."
"It's very strange, but one would swear that you were annoyed. Don't lie about it: your charmer has given you your walking ticket."
"Not at all! but she's a horribly jealous creature, with whom I was to dine to-day. I broke my engagement in order to join you, and she writes me that it is plain that I no longer love her, and that she's going to take poison; that alarms me a little, because she's quite capable of doing as she says."
"Nonsense! you must have read it wrong; it's fish [poisson] that she's going to take. Show us her letter."
"Impossible, messieurs! I must respect her reputation."
"I say! you're putting figs and raisins in your pockets now; do you like them pocketed, too?"
"Oh! I was absent-minded; that devil of a woman! Why need she disturb my enjoyment! Basta! I won't think any more about her. Another love awaits me! Give me something to drink!"
Monsieur Dupétrain, who had been coughing persistently for several minutes to attract the others' attention, replaced his elbows on the table, and began:
"Messieurs, as the three messengers you were expecting have all come at last and brought replies to your messages, and as you will not be called away again, I think that this is an opportune time to tell you my somnambulistic anecdote."
The young men prepared to listen; and Mouillot drew his watch, saying: