"Ah! sandis! what a pleasant meeting! 'Tis the haughty Ambroisine, with her worthy father, whom I see before me!" "Oho! it is Monsieur le Chevalier Passedix!" replied Ambroisine, as the long, lean gentleman planted himself in front of her. "Have you also come to see the Fire of Saint-Jean?" "Ah! little do I care for these celebrations. The fire that burns in the depths of my heart would eclipse all possible Saint-Jeans. Do not be alarmed, cruel girl! it is no longer to you that those words are addressed. You spurned me, and I have carried elsewhere my sighs and my prayers!" "Oh! I know it, monsieur le chevalier, and I congratulate you." "You know it? Ah, yes! I remember; you even know for whom I sigh. You know Miretta?" "Do I know her! Oh! she is my friend, too. I am very fond of her! She has shown such gratitude to me for the trivial service I rendered! She comes to see me now and then." "Pardieu! I know it. The little one doesn't take a step without my knowledge, without having me at her heels!" "She told me so, monsieur le chevalier, and I warn you that she dislikes it extremely. She has said to me several times: 'If that tall, thin, yellow man continues to follow me as soon as I set foot in the street, I shall be obliged to tell him that he is wasting his time and his steps.'" "Ha! ha! ha! First of all, I will wager that Miretta did not say: 'that tall, thin, yellow man'; those are your own words, cruel tongue! Oh! I know women! They complain when we follow them; but they would be sorely disappointed if we did not follow them!" "Well! try to disappoint Miretta; that will gratify her." "I hoped to meet her here.--Bigre! I had not noticed; you have a most charming young lady on your arm!" "Is she not? This is Bathilde, my closest friend. I suppose, of course, that you will at once fall in love with her too?" "Oh, no! it is all over with me! You judge me ill, fair Ambroisine; I have given my heart to Miretta! For her alone do I propose henceforth to perform doughty deeds.--Sandis! what in the devil is this slipping between my legs like a lizard? Is it a man? is it an eel?" "Don't disturb yourself, seigneur," replied Bahuchet; "I have got through. You must understand that I couldn't remain behind you; you are as tall as a giant!" "And you are a dwarf, apparently! Ought atoms to be allowed in the crowd? Someone will crush you without noticing it, my little fellow!" "Ouiche! I won't allow myself to be flattened out without saying _beware_!--I say, Plumard! do you hear this long asparagus stalk, who thinks that I am to be crushed like a grain of salt?" Plumard was a few feet away, gazing at Bathilde, and apparently speechless with admiration. "Plumard! Plumard! _ubi es_?--Ah! there he is!--Why don't you answer? What's the matter with you, pray? One would say that you were changed into a wooden man!"