"Monsieur Louet threw himself back in his chair and looked at us all, one after the other, as if he had only just become aware of our presence, accompanying his inspection with a smile of the most perfect benevolence; then, heaving a gentle sigh of satisfaction--'Ma foi! I have made a capital supper!' exclaimed he. "'M. Louet! A cigar?' cried Mery: 'It is good for the digestion.' "'Thank you, most illustrious poet!' answered M. Louet; 'I never smoke. It was not the fashion in my time. Smoking and boots were introduced by the Cossacks. I always wear shoes, and am faithful to my snuff-box.' "So saying, M. Louet produced his box, and offered it round. We all refused except Mery, who, wishing to flatter him, attacked his weak side. "'What delicious snuff, M. Louet! This cannot be the common French snuff?' "'Indeed it is--only I doctor it in a particular manner. It is a secret I learned from a cardinal when I was at Rome.' "'Ha! You have been to Rome?' cried I. "'Yes, sir; I passed twenty years there.' "'M. Louet,' said Mery, 'since you do not smoke, you ought to tell these gentlemen the story of your thrush-hunt.' "'I shall be most happy,' replied M. Louet graciously, 'if you think it will amuse the company.' "'To be sure it will,' cried Mery. 'Gentlemen, you are going to hear the account of one of the most extraordinary hunts that has taken place since the days of Nimrod the mighty hunter. I have heard it told twenty times, and each time with increased pleasure. Another glass of punch, M. Louet. There! Now begin.--We are all impatience.' "'You are aware, gentlemen,' said M. Louet, 'that every Marseillais is born a sportsman.' "'Perfectly true,' interrupted Mery 'it is a physiological phenomenon which I have never been able to explain; but it is nevertheless quite true.' "'Unfortunately,' continued M. Louet, 'or perhaps I should say fortunately, we have neither lions nor tigers in the neighbourhood of Marseilles. On the other hand, we have flights of pigeons.' "'There!' cried Mery, 'I told you so. They insist upon it.' "'Certainly,' replied M. Louet, visibly vexed; 'and, whatever you may say to the contrary, the pigeons _do_ pass. Besides, did you not lend me the other day a book of Mr Cooper's, the _Pioneers_, in which the fact is authenticated?' "'Ah, yes! Authenticated in America.' "'Very well! If they pass over America why should they not pass over Marseilles? The vessels that go from Alexandria and Constantinople to America often pass here.' "'Very true!' replied Mery, thunderstruck by this last argument. 'I have nothing more to say. M. Louet, your hand. I will never contradict you again on the subject.' "'Sir, every man has a right to his opinion.' "'True, but I relinquish mine. Pray go on, M. Louet.' "'I was saying, then, that instead of lions and tigers we have flights of pigeons.' M. Louet paused a moment to see if Mery would contradict him. Mery nodded his head approvingly.