“Stale Spanish morality!’” exclaimed the capitalist, bursting into a laugh. “Does the fair creature expect to find an Amadeus of Gaul in a general of the age of enlightenment?”
“Or a Pastor Fido in one who aspires to become a father to his country?” put in Boni.
“The fact is,” replied our friend, “that in my connection with Lucia there have been exceptional circumstances.”
“Tell them to us, little one,” said his intimate. “The romantic tale will flavor the coffee.”
The general related all the preliminaries and particulars of his relations with Lucia.
“Don’t you see, general,” said the imitator of the tone Parisian, “that it was all a farce, very well got up, by those fourbes rustics to set you on; alarm you; interest you in the girl, and oblige you to take her?”
“That it was all an intrigue of las étage?” added the copy of the copy.
“Apropos of impositions,” said the capitalist, “I must tell you what happened to me yesterday. A fellow came into my office—”
“Don’t omit,” said Boni, “that you were counting an immense sum of money at the time, for that is what heightens the joke.”
“He asked me,” continued Creseus, “if I would lend him two doubloons. I told him that it cost me the greatest pain to be obliged to refuse, but that I had not sixpence by me.”