Passedix grasped the Bohemian's hand and shook it effusively, saying:
"If anyone should ever be so ill-advised as to touch a hair of your head!—You know that I am devoted to you and that I am fearless?—I will undertake to deliver you, even from the Bastille, if they should imprison you there!"
Poussinet brought the eau-de-vie, for which the old man paid on the spot.
Meanwhile, most of the drinkers and habitués of the establishment had gone; and the proprietor, approaching our three friends, bowed to them, very respectfully this time, and said:
"Messeigneurs, the curfew has rung; I must warn you that I shall soon be obliged, to my regret, to send you away; for if the watch should see a light in my shop, I——"
"Very good, very good, my man!" replied the Bohemian; "we are drinking quietly, we are making no disturbance, and we have some time before us still. Moreover, there are ways of arranging matters with the watch."
As he spoke, the old man slipped into the cabaretier's hand a piece of silver which he took from his belt.
The proprietor of the Loup de Mer bowed again, saying:
"Well, messeigneurs, do as you please; my first duty is to satisfy my customers."
"Sandis! let the watch come!" cried Passedix, drinking eau-de-vie as if it were wine. "We will give them a warm reception; they'll find someone to talk to, eh! friend Cédrille?—Let us take a drink! this young new-comer hangs back!"