Our young gentlemen did not always confine themselves to ogling the passers-by. When a woman who was at all attractive, or a clown with a particularly idiotic face, passed the barber's shop, they addressed a compliment or an obscene jest to the one, to the other some unflattering epithet or some insulting question. And woe to the unlucky wight who should take the jest in bad part! for if he lost his temper and presumed to reply, all the idlers and all the customers assembled at the baths instantly ran out to listen to the complainant; and then, instead of one jest, he had to undergo a perfect hailstorm of witticisms from all sides. "Pardieu! messeigneurs," said one young blade, all covered with ribbons and lace, as he left the door and threw himself carelessly on one of the hard chairs in the shop, "I have just seen two women of rather attractive aspect go in at the door leading to the baths." "How were they dressed, Sénange?" inquired the young man who was at that moment in the barber's hands. "Oh! how curious this little Monclair is! He wants to make us believe that he is waiting here for a fair; that someone is to come here to fetch him!" "Yes, sambleu! I am expecting someone; what is there so surprising in that? Haven't you at least one mistress yourself, Sénange?" "One mistress! Vertudieu! if I had but one, it seems to me that it would be almost the same as if I had none." "Very pretty! but I shouldn't expect it from anyone but Léodgard.--Come, Sénange, be decent; how were the damsels dressed who have just gone into the baths?" "One--and she must have been the dowager--wore a brown pelisse and hood; her head was all wrapped up in the hood, and there was a thick veil over all; guess at the face, if you can!" "And the other?" "The other was dressed in pink; there was a border of black lace to her hood, and it fell over her eyes; but her feet were small, her slippers embroidered with silver thread, and her leg well turned, as one could easily see, for she raised her skirts very generously!" "Oh! it is she, I am sure!" "By Notre-Dame de Paris!" cried Master Hugonnet, holding his razor in the air; "if you move about like this, my lord, something will happen to your face; that leap of yours nearly cost you your nose, and I assure you that it would not have been my fault. Keep quiet, or I will not answer for the consequences!" "'Tis well, barber; go on, do your duty; I will try to be calm.--By the way, messieurs, it seems to me that it is a long while since we last saw Passedix in this quarter!" "True; the valiant Passedix no longer shows himself; where can he be?--Have you seen him lately, Hugonnet?" "No, messeigneurs; it is several weeks since the Chevalier Passedix has been here." "That is the more surprising, because, if I remember aright, he was deeply in love with your daughter Ambroisine." "In love with my daughter--he! He is in love with all women; but it amounts to nothing."