"Monsieur de la Roche-Noire, I have come in response to your honorable invitation," said Férulus, clinging to Robineau’s hand.
"Monsieur Férulus, you give me great pleasure. To-day we shall have a simple little dinner; I have not yet had time to arrange my household."
"Monsieur de la Roche-Noire, the honor of dining with you will be the most delicious seasoning of the repast."
"Monsieur Férulus, I hope that you will come often to take——"
"Every day if such is your wish, Monsieur de la Roche-Noire. Is it possible, Monsieur de la Roche-Noire, for me to refuse such society as yours; to deprive myself of the advantage of your conversation, and to fall behind you in making advances?—No, Monsieur de la Roche-Noire, lapides clamabunt before I refuse to dine with you."
Robineau had never been so plied with La Roche-Noire, and when he uttered that name Monsieur Férulus opened his mouth as if he would swallow the château. So Robineau continued to shake his hand; Férulus did the same by him, and each seemed determined not to relax his hold first. Luckily for them, François announced dinner, and this enabled them to separate.
They went to the dining room, where the table was laid. François had placed at one end of the table an old armchair on castors, which was a foot higher than the other chairs. It had been used by the old dowager, who was evidently very short. Robineau thought that his dignity called upon him to occupy it; so he perched himself on it and towered above his guests; whereupon Monsieur Férulus exclaimed: "Sic itur ad astra!"—But it was impossible for him to serve from that elevated seat, because he was too far from the dishes. After the soup, he decided to take a chair like the others, and he said to François:
"Move the armchair away; I will use it on state occasions."
The dinner, composed in large part of chickens, seemed not ill prepared; the new occupants of the château had acquired sharp appetites by their tour of inspection, and Monsieur Férulus ate as if he had walked twenty leagues.
"Monsieur Férulus," said Robineau, "have you lived long in this neighborhood?"