"No, no! cadédis! that wasn't it!--He might have struck ten times as hard, and I would never have let go Roland, that fiercer assaults than that have not lowered! But just fancy, my boy---- Lean on me, don't be afraid; I am firm on my legs.--Just fancy, my worthy Béarnais, that someone had played me the despicable trick of twisting a strip of pork around Roland's hilt! So you see, it was just when I brandished it most vigorously that it slipped from my hand!" "Well, well! pardi! that was a curious idea; to twist pork round a sword! But didn't you notice it when you drew your sword from the sheath?" "What do you expect?--in the heat of battle, when it is a question of saving a lovely girl and an excellent youth, one does not amuse one's self examining one's sword hilt.--However, it's all over, we were victors, and, thanks to my assistance, you were able to continue your journey. I trust that you reached the safe harbor for which you were bound?" "Yes, seigneur chevalier. Mon Dieu! my cousin is already settled in the Hôtel de Mongarcin." "Ah! that charming little brunette whom you had _en croupe_ is your cousin?" "To be sure! my mother and I, we are the only relations she has." "Well! I congratulate you; you have a charming cousin; and, in fact, now that I look at you--yes, there is a resemblance, at the corners of the mouth." "You are the first person who ever thought that I resembled Miretta.--Ah! jarni! there's holes here. If it hadn't been for you, monsieur le chevalier, I believe I should have fallen full length in the street." "You must have turned your foot." "Yes; and then, my head is in the same fix." "Hold fast to me; don't be afraid to lean on me. I am made of iron, of steel." "For my part, I feel as if my legs were made of cotton; it's because I've had so much to drink. Oh! what famous wines! How polite those liveried servants are! they kept filling my glass for me.--Ha! hold me up!" "They filled you, finally. So it was the servants at the Hôtel de Mongarcin who treated you so well?" "To be sure.--By the way, did I tell you that I came to Paris to bring Miretta to Mademoiselle de Mongarcin?" "You must have told me, as I know it." "To be sure, that's so; as you know it, I must have told you.--Bah! there's another hole; and then, I don't know whether it's because I am dizzy, but it seems to me that I can't see very plain." "Oh! that is no mistake; it is growing dark. Look you, it is after half-past seven. Where were you going, my worthy man, my dear fellow, when I met you?--Sandis! I know your name, but it doesn't come to my lips." "Cédrille, at your service." "Cédrille--that's it.--Whither were you bending your steps, my good Cédrille?" "I--mon Dieu! I don't know; you see, Monsieur le Chevalier--what d'ye call it--what _is_ your name?" "Castor Pyrrhus de Passedix." "Oh! those names are pretty hard to remember. Must I say them all?" "No! call me Passedix; that will be enough." "Ah! good! Passe--six."