Luckily, Ménard was in such a condition that he could not distinguish clearly what was being said. Bewildered by the frequent libations in which he had indulged with his noble companion, he left the table to go to his room. He felt his way along the walls till he reached his bed, which he had ordered to be made very low. He retired, well pleased with the feast he had enjoyed and with the baron's manner of doing the honors of the table; he considered that he had done exceedingly well to intrust the financial arrangements to him, for he himself would not have dared to order so delicious a repast; and he foresaw that the baron, who seemed to be both a gourmand and an epicure, would continue to feed them on the fat of the land, as he had abandoned his incognito. In a word, Ménard was delighted with their travelling companion, and he fell asleep musing upon the pleasures and the honor which he should enjoy on that journey. On the following day, Frédéric attempted to talk prudence to Dubourg, who instantly retorted: "Do you want to take the funds? Do so, give such orders as you please; it's your right. But, absorbed as you always are in melancholy reflections, you won't feed us decently; and when you are travelling for pleasure, it seems to me that food is a most essential thing to look out for." "But be reasonable, at least." "Oh! you are greatly to be pitied, aren't you, for having two men with you to keep you amused--one by his wit, the other by the way he puts himself outside of a partridge." "But what's the meaning of this idea of playing the great man before everybody?" "Because we shall have more sport. Besides, you are a count; I must be a baron at least, in order to travel on equal terms with you." "But the money will go much faster." "Bah! we shan't see the end of it for a long while yet; and then, you have a father, and I an aunt." "I advise you to rely on them!" "At all events, you see that your mentor approves of my method." "Parbleu! you make him tipsy, and he doesn't know what he's saying." "Don't worry; I'll answer for everything." When they resumed their journey, the horses, which belonged to Frédéric, went like the wind. Ménard was slightly dazed by the rapid motion, but he said to himself: "These nobles always travel at full speed;" and clung to the door to keep from falling. At every inn, they were treated with the greatest respect, as men of high rank. Everywhere they had the best rooms, the daintiest dishes, the oldest wines. And Ménard was delighted, enchanted, because he believed that monsieur le baron had put his fifteen thousand francs with the sum he had handed him, and because he judged him to be too large-hearted and generous to give a thought to the difference between their contributions.