--Yes--I know: we will not say to whom; we will say: from the suffering of whom.... For understand and do not forget that your gain came from my misfortune.... --But.... --Do not cavil, I beg you. Between your gain and my trouble there is a relation; I do not quite know which, but there is a relation.... --But, sir.... --Do not call me sir. --But, my dear Cocles. --Say simply Cocles. --But once again, my best Cocles.... --No, sir,--no, Damocles,--and it is no use your talking, for I still wear the mark of the blow on my cheek ... it is a wound that I will show you at once. The conversation becoming disagreeably personal, the waiter at this moment showed his tact. IV By a clever movement,--simply upsetting a full plate over Prometheus,--he suddenly diverted the attention of the other two. Prometheus could not restrain an exclamation, and his voice after the others seemed so profound that one realized that up to this minute he had not spoken. The irritation of Damocles and Cocles joined forces. --But you say nothing--they cried. PROMETHEUS SPEAKS --Oh, gentlemen, anything that I can say has so little importance.... I do not really see how ... and then the more I think.... No, truly I have nothing to say. You have each of you a history; I have none. Excuse me. Believe me it is with the greatest interest that I have heard you each relate an adventure which I wish ... I could.... But I cannot even express myself easily. No, truly you must excuse me, gentlemen. I have been in Paris less than two hours; nothing has as yet happened to me, except my delightful meeting with you, which gives me such a good idea of what a conversation can be between two Parisians, when they are both men of talent.... --But before you came here, said Cocles. --You must have been somewhere, added Damocles. --Yes, I admit it, said Prometheus.... But again, once more, it has absolutely no connexion.... --Never mind, said Cocles, we came here to talk. We have both of us, Damocles and I, already given our share; you alone bring nothing; you listen; it is not fair. It is time to speak Mr....? The waiter, feeling instinctively that the moment had come for the introduction, quietly slipped in the name to complete the sentence: --Prometheus--he said simply. --Prometheus, repeated Damocles.--Excuse me, sir, but it seems to me that that name already.... --Oh! interrupted Prometheus quickly, that is not of the slightest importance. --But if there is nothing of importance, impatiently cried the other two, why have you come here, dear Mr.... Mr....? --Prometheus, replied Prometheus simply.