"It is the unadulterated truth; and there was one of them--the younger--who stopped and said in a faltering tone: 'Let us walk toward him!' but her companion, who was older, dragged her away, saying: 'No, no; I see that that cavalier has turned your head; come, you will do some foolish thing!'" This time Passedix patted the second clerk's skull. "Ah! capédébious! that young woman was attracted to me.--Ha! ha! these two little rascals are very nice fellows. I rather like this bald head, it reminds me of Dutch cheese, of which I am very fond.--Speaking of cheese, tell me, young men, have you breakfasted, or dined?" "Neither, monsieur le chevalier; we have fasted since yesterday noon." "And we have a devilish appetite." "Why didn't you say so at once!--Come with me; at the end of Rue Saint-Jacques there's a wine shop where the wine is excellent; you will tell me what you think about it." "Oh! with great pleasure, monsieur le chevalier; but what a beautiful cloak, what an exquisite doublet you have!" "And these short-clothes! how dainty they are!" "How this color becomes you! See! there is another fine lady stopping to look at you!" "Sandis! I am accustomed to it.--Come, my friends, and put on your caps; I give you leave! Parbleu! I propose to regale you in the good old way!" The two ex-clerks walked beside the Gascon chevalier, like two soldiers escorting a marshal of France. They arrived at the wine shop at the end of Rue Saint-Jacques. Passedix was known there, and, as he was now a good customer, the waiters served him with the greatest zeal. The chevalier selected a table, ordered three covers to be laid, and seated himself between his two guests, saying: "What vexes me is that I cannot eat with you. I have already breakfasted twice, and I do not feel capable of dining at this moment. Formerly it would have been easy for me. On my honor, it is pitiful! When one becomes rich, one's capacities should be enlarged accordingly. But it is just the opposite! When I had not a sou, I ate four times as much; to be sure, I didn't eat every day. However, one can always drink, and that is something." Bahuchet and Plumard conducted themselves in such wise as to augment the chevalier's regret for his lost appetite. The dishes simply appeared and disappeared before the ex-clerks; their plates were no sooner filled than they were as clean as if they had been washed; and this lasted for a considerable time. The two friends hardly took time to drink. "Bravo! sandioux! this is magnificent! it is superb!" cried Passedix; "this is what I call eating--this is the way I used to work! It spurs one on! it sets one on edge! I am sure that in your company I should soon recover my former appetite!" "Nothing prevents it, monsieur le chevalier; we are entirely at your service; and there is a very simple way to make sure that we shall always be at hand." "What way is that, little one?"