"‘Homo sum et humani a me nihil alienum puto!’"
Robineau returned; they started off again, and he lashed the horse as before. Férulus tried to continue his declamation, but Robineau stopped him, saying:
"Later, my dear librarian; at dinner; I am in no condition to listen to you now. Love and happiness produce a peculiar effect upon my senses! You don’t know what that is; you have never married, perhaps?"
"I beg your pardon, monseigneur; I was married once, and I have had enough of it."
"And you, Uncle Mignon, were you ever married?"
"I! no, I don’t think so. Oh, no! no! that has never happened to me."
"Ah! when one has a heart so easily touched as mine, it produces a complete revolution. My bride is a perfect Venus, she is built like Minerva; and when I think that to-night—I beg pardon—let us stop again, if you please."
They stopped; Robineau alighted once more and glided behind a clump of trees. Monsieur Férulus took a pinch of snuff, and cried:
"‘Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret!’"
Robineau soon reappeared; they drove on, and tried to make up for lost time by whipping the horse; but he went none the faster for it, and the bridegroom was in despair.