"I will not presume to ask monsieur le comte how he passes his time in Paris; that is his business, and I never meddle in other people's affairs! But I venture to say that I should be an invaluable guide for a stranger who wished to become acquainted with the pleasures, the merry gatherings, of the capital. I go about a great deal in the best society. I am a jovial companion, a sturdy toper; all the dandies, all the young noblemen who love to fight and drink and make love to the fair, are my friends. Does anyone need a second for a duel, a fourth for a party of four, Passedix is always there! I do not like to boast, but I could mention exploits of my own which the Amadises and Renauds would not have disavowed!" "One needs only to see you, chevalier, to entertain no manner of doubt that you would be successful in whatever you might undertake!" "Monsieur le comte is too kind! But it is quite true that I count only victories, sandioux!" "If I remember aright," murmured the little widow, carefully placing a bit of toast in her egg, "you were on your back a fortnight as a result of the blows you received the last time that you tried to rob several bourgeois on Rue Mauconseil of their sleep!" Passedix cast a savage glance at his landlady, as he cried: "No, no! you are wrong, Dame Cadichard. I covered myself with glory in that affair; and if I did keep my bed for some time after, it was only because, in the heat of the affray, I gave myself a strain which kept me from going to my usual resorts for a few days. Your eggs are too hard, _belle dame_, you will never be able to dip your toast in them. I advise you to eat them as a salad." "They are all right, monsieur le chevalier; I like them this way.--Mon Dieu! how sorry I am, monsieur le comte, that my servant keeps you waiting like this!" "There is no harm done, madame, I am in no hurry." "If only I had something to offer monsieur le comte; but this breakfast is not worthy of him." "I should think it very nice, if I had not already eaten mine." "In any case," observed Passedix, "you wouldn't offer your tenants boiled eggs, I trust; for these are as hard as rocks--like Easter eggs." "Oh! what a tease you are, monsieur le chevalier! But I think that you know very little about cooking!" "Sandioux! Dame Cadichard--on the contrary, I know a great deal about it. My godfather Chaudoreille used to give his friends banquets that lasted a whole week; I remember that he used to have delicacies from the four quarters of the globe, and he was not satisfied unless his guests had indigestion.--If Monsieur de Carvajal has no restaurant to which he is attached, I could take him to a cabaret where they serve the most delicious calves' heads, and stewed rabbits _en crapaudine_--you would swear they were hares." "I thank you, chevalier; but I do not take my meals at wine shops."