"Don't you agree with me that it is very comical?"
"Sandis! baron, I see nothing amusing in it at all! What do you see in it that moves you to laughter?"
"Pardieu! Passedix, the fact that you no more resemble Giovanni than that enormous lady yonder resembles the Marquise de Santoval; and I speak by the card, having had the honor of being set upon and robbed by the illustrious brigand!"
"What, monsieur le baron! have you been attacked by the famous Giovanni?" said the little hunchback, raising his head in order to look at Montrevert more closely.
"Yes, monsieur, and much more than attacked—I was beaten; for I tried to defend myself. But Léodgard here knows Giovanni much better than I, for he has had two encounters with him: the first, when he was robbed, like myself; on the second occasion, he tried to avenge me and kill the villainous thief; he fought with him and wounded him.—Is not that so, count?"
"Yes, it is true, I wounded him; at least, I thought so!" Léodgard replied, trying to hide his emotion, and glancing uneasily in every direction.
"You thought so!" rejoined Montrevert; "why, it was no delusion, as you were covered with blood when you came back to us."
"Cadédis!" cried Passedix, raising his hand to put aside one of the plumes, which fell over his left eye; "I don't know what I would give to cut that infernal robber in four pieces!"
"In that case, messieurs," said Monsieur de Noirteuil, "you must indeed know this Giovanni perfectly."