"In order that there may be no jealousy, I shall put the same compliment in each bouquet. Next, a foot race through the apartments of the château."
"Ah! Monsieur Férulus," said Alfred, "you should have made it a horse race; it would have been more exciting."
"Next, refreshments of all sorts, consisting of red wine and water, distributed to all the company; then a little concert, performed under the windows of the balcony."
"Monsieur Férulus," said Robineau, "I won’t have bagpipes. The villagers hereabout are very obliging, but I remember my first party, and I don’t propose that those fellows shall dance here again."
"Never fear, monseigneur, they will not dance; they will come into the courtyard simply to be present at the games and to see the greased pole."
"Ah! We are to have a greased pole, are we?"
"Yes, monseigneur, we shall have two, in fact; I thought that it would be courteous to have one for the men and one for the ladies."
"Parbleu!" said Alfred, "I have never yet seen women climbing a greased pole; but it cannot fail to be very amusing. You will supply them with drawers, I presume, Monsieur Férulus?"
"I have not gone into those details, monsieur; but in order that it may be easier for the ladies to reach the top, I have conceived rather a happy idea: while the men’s pole will be greased and rubbed with soap, I shall have the ladies’ pole rubbed with honey from top to bottom; in that way, they will be able to ascend as easily as if it were a ladder."
"That is altogether novel!" said Robineau; "and what are the prizes to be?"