"She will go to the top," said Monsieur Gérard; "she’s a stout young woman."
"Oh! she’s uncommonly strong," said Robineau; "she lifted me up once like a feather."
"She has a shapely calf," said Monsieur Berlingue.
In her struggles, Mademoiselle Cheval did in fact show her calves and her garters; but thus far everything had gone off successfully, and Monsieur Férulus, who, standing at the foot of the pole, kept his eyes fixed on her, constantly encouraged her by calling out "mate animo," which the cook took for an insult, and to which she replied: "Climb yourself, you animal!"
At last Mademoiselle Cheval reached the goal; she untied the two volumes and dropped them into the courtyard.
The librarian, overjoyed that the prizes had been won, ordered the orchestra to play a fanfare; the company applauded, and Mademoiselle Cheval, in the excitement of her triumph, attempted to slide down rapidly; but her dress stuck to the honey and refused to be detached; so that, as she dropped, her face soon disappeared beneath her skirts, while her legs were exposed to the observation of the spectators.
A murmur arose; the ladies resorted to their fans or left the balcony, the men took their glasses, and made comments on what they saw, and Robineau cried:
"Take her down!"
Monsieur Férulus, who did not know the cause of the tumult, shouted with all his strength:
"Honor to the victor!"