“Were you aiming at me, pray?”
“No, indeed, monsieur; of course not!”
“Because, you see, I have the gout, and if you had knocked me down, it might have been a more serious matter for me than for that little man, who ought not to have lost the habit of tumbling yet.”
“Oh! monsieur, if I had had that misfortune, I should never have forgiven myself; but I’d have picked you up.”
“That would have been most generous on your part; but I prefer that you shouldn’t have any occasion to pick me up. You look to me like a genuine ne’er-do-well; but I don’t dislike knaves of your sort.”
“Monsieur’s a good judge.”
“Would you like to come with me? I’ll give you an errand to do.”
“Yes, monsieur, why not? And you won’t be sorry that you chose me; I do errands in first-class shape!”
“Very good! if I am satisfied with you, I will give you my work. What’s your name?”
“Chicotin—nicknamed Patatras because——”