“Hey, my little fellow,” he cried (the lodge-keeper was at least as big as Daniel Lambert), “it is for you, then. You know the best wat is good. I will not abduct madame: I will not marry at all. It is vair much satisfaction. You see me dance, _hein_? Come on, jolly _garçon_!-- “‘Love miscarries--heh? When a man marries--heh?’ When a man’s single he live at his is--you spik French, but yes?” The lodge-keeper hawked up a glair of oaths, and discharged them. He swore by all his gods that he would cut off the intruder by the legs, unless he went out, and double quick, the way he had come. Then ensued a comical scene. The pierrot, affecting to retreat after a brief altercation, swerved suddenly and seated himself on the branch of a tree-- “O-ho!” he said, as the other came lumbering up, “it is vair well, but I make up my mind. I refuse madame, it is true. You know to marry, what it is? Listen, then-- “‘At the end of one year one baby: That is jolly-fun!’” The lodge-keeper, cursing, made a snatch at the man’s stilts; but, incredibly strong, he whipped them up out of reach, and held them so horizontal. “‘At the end of two year two baby-- How it is a little serious!’” he sang. The lodge-keeper swore and jumped, till he was running wet for all the cold; but he was too fat a fox for these grapes. “‘At the end of three year three baby-- But that is the very devil,’” bawled the pierrot ferociously, and clashed the stilts like great castanets. Then he settled himself firmly. “‘One asks for bread,’” bellowed he; and suddenly flourishing his right stilt, caught the lodge-keeper a stinging smack across the head with it-- “‘Another for soup,’” he yelled, and gave such a counter blow with his left, that the lodge-keeper fairly reeled and went rolling over-- “‘_L’aut’ qui demande à téter,_ _Et les seins sont tarie,_’” shouted the pierrot, and was up and out of sight in a moment, striding like Talus. The infuriate lodge-keeper rose, when he had recovered himself, to pursue; but he was too late. The pierrot had got clean away. Not till all had been vanished many minutes did I awake from the stunned trance into which I had been thrown by those few whispered words. Then, still by the window, I sank upon the floor, and, simultaneously, into a very reel and passion of ecstasy.