"I swear it on my honor! And these gentlemen will bear witness that I am to be believed."
"Yes, yes! palsambleu! Thirty pistoles—why, that is nothing to him now, for he doesn't know what to do with his doubloons."
"Pardon! a thousand pardons, monsieur le chevalier! Then it must be my nephew who robbed me."
"That is very probable. That little rascal, with his plaster, looked to me like a consummate knave, and I fancy that that Bahuchet is little better; but when I meet them, I will administer salutary chastisement to them. As for you, dealer in old clothes, I ought to shave your ears a trifle! You called the fine flower of chivalry a robber!"
As he spoke, Passedix seized the little man by one ear and shook him roughly. The young noblemen, who were highly amused by the scene, urged the chevalier to enforce all the rights of the victor; the terrified tradesman was beginning to whine and beg for mercy, when suddenly the Gascon's face became radiant, his eyes flashed fire, and he released the little man's ear, crying:
"There she is! it is she! I find her again at last!—Adieu, my noble friends! Do not follow me, I beg!"
It was indeed Miretta whom Passedix had espied; Miretta, who, after running hither and thither a long while, had succeeded at last in forcing her way through the crowd, and at the very moment when she expected to see her lover had heard people saying all about her:
"They have made a mistake."
"It isn't Giovanni that they caught."
"Oh! what a misfortune!"