"It was our horse’s fault entirely," continued Robineau; "it was he who defeated our impatience."
"Yes, yes," said Mignon, "it was the horse and—a bilis suffu——"
Robineau trod upon Mignon’s foot, and bruised two corns, to keep him quiet; on the contrary, it made him shriek like one possessed; but nobody listened to him, and they proceeded to the civil ceremonies, during which the bridegroom seemed decidedly ill at ease, which condition was attributed to excitement and joy. Then they left the mayor’s office and reëntered the carriages to go to the church, although it was only two steps away; but it would not have been seemly to have arrived there on foot. But the bridegroom did not enter his carriage; he disappeared on leaving the mayor’s office, and they arrived at the church without him. There monsieur le marquis noticed that his son-in-law was absent again, and as the church was filled with people, and as in a small town a wedding is a great event, Monsieur de la Pincerie was furious with Robineau, who had spoiled the triumphal entry, and compelled the ceremony to be suspended.
"Where is he, where is he now?" cried the marquis, while Cornélie glanced over the crowd, saying:
"Why, this is inconceivable! it is absolutely indecent! to keep us waiting twice in succession! If the affair had not gone so far, I would break it all off!"
"Why did you leave him?" Monsieur de la Pincerie asked his brother Mignon and Férulus.
"We did not leave him, it was he who left us, saying: ‘Go on, I will overtake you.’"
"But what the deuce can he have to do at the very moment of his wedding?"
Mignon scratched his nose and Férulus compressed his lips.
"Love has turned his brain," said Alfred.