"Oh, no! oh, no! not till you have answered my questions; but you can't do that!"
"Your questions! By what right, pray, do you put questions to us, when we are offering you a civil attention? Do you know, my handsome traveller, that it is not decent to refuse to drink a glass, to empty a goblet, to our health?—Are you afraid to drink? In that case, you would make a dismal companion!—I say, messieurs, what do you think of this lout who fears to compromise himself by drinking with us?"
"Probably the knave has never tasted wine; he thinks that we intend to purge him."
"He is sadly in need of having the rust rubbed off—the clown!"
"Ah! but he must drink! We will pour a pint or two down his throat from the Souris Blanche, which is just across the way."
"We will teach the fool what courtesy is!"
"Ah! so silly talk is taking the place of your civilities now!" said the peasant, with a frown.
His companion touched him on the shoulder and murmured:
"Go on, Cédrille! whip your horse. Don't stay in the midst of all these young gentlemen. They look to me like bad fellows; their shouts and the way they look at me—I am beginning to be frightened."
"Whip Bourriquet! why, they have got hold of his bridle; and how can we go on in the middle of all this crowd? I wouldn't like to ride over anyone, for then they would make trouble for me.—Jarny! Miretta, I am sorry already that you insisted on coming to this Paris!"