"Mount then."
"Which side do I mount?"
"What! you don’t know on which side to mount?"
"I have forgotten; it was a long while ago that I learned."
"My dear Robineau, you’ll have a fall."
"Jules! I told you to call me Jules; why won’t you do it?—I say, Germain, just hold the stirrup for me—that’s right."
"Boldly now! Ah! how heavy you are!"
Robineau succeeded at last in placing his right leg on the other side of the saddle; he was fairly mounted and he glanced triumphantly about.
"Let us be off," said Alfred; and he gave the rein to his horse; but Robineau, bounding up from the saddle, cried:
"Stop! stop! I am not ready. What the devil! you fellows start off without giving me time to get settled; my stirrup leathers are too long, my toes hardly reach the stirrup."