"Yes," replied Franchimeau, "it does me no good, unless each slice is soaked in some wine of fine quality." But Mrs. Clavering acknowledging that she had no Champagne in the house, Franchimeau gruffly replied, that "he supposed Madeira might do." Madame then continued her story and her pine-apple. "_Ah! mon bien-aimé Alphonse_,"[16] said she, "he had fourteen wounds--I will take another slice, if you please, Madame Colavering. There--there--a little more sugar. _Bien obligé_[17]--a little more still. _Maman, vous ne mangez pas de bon appetit. Ah! je comprens--vous voulez de la crème avec votre anana._[18]--Madame Colavering, will you do mamma the favour to have some cream brought for her? and I shall not refuse some for myself. Ah! _mon Alphonse_--the object of my first grand passion! He exhibited in dying some contortions that were hideous--_absolument effroyable_[19]--they are always present before my eyes--Madame Colavering, I would prefer those two under slices; they are the best penetrated with the sugar, and also well steeped in the _jus_."[20] [Footnote 16: My beloved Alphonse.] [Footnote 17: Much obliged to you.] [Footnote 18: Mamma, you do not eat with a good appetite. Ah! I understand--you wish for some cream with your pine-apple.] [Footnote 19: Absolutely frightful.] [Footnote 20: Juice.] The cream was procured, and the two Madames did it ample justice. Presently the youngest of the French ladies opened her eyes very wide, and exclaimed to her father, "_Mon cher papa, vous n' avez pas déjà fini?_"[21] "My good friend, Madame Colavering, you know, of course, that my papa cannot eat much fruit, unless it is accompanied by some _biscuit_--for instance, the cake you call sponge." [Footnote 21: My dear papa, you have not finished already?] "I was not aware of that," replied Mrs. Clavering. "_Est-il possible?_"[22] exclaimed the whole French family, looking at each other. [Footnote 22: Is it possible?] Mrs. Clavering then recollecting that there was some sponge-cake in the house, sent one of the children for it, and when it was brought, their French visiters all ate heartily of it; and she heard the _vieille maman_[23] saying to the _vieux papa_,[24] "_Eh, mon ami, ce petit collation vient fort à-propos, comme notre déjeûner était seulement un mauvais salade._"[25] [Footnote 23: Old mamma.] [Footnote 24: Old papa.] [Footnote 25: Eh! my dear, this little collation comes very seasonably, as our breakfast was nothing but a bad salad.] The collation over, Mrs. Clavering, by way of giving her guests an opportunity of saying something that would please Uncle Philip, patted old Neptune on the head, and asked them if they had ever seen a finer dog?