“Oh! I understand you, you young rascal; we have some little intrigues on the carpet. You are right, it is never too early to begin to make one’s way in the world. If I had a son, I would say to him: ‘Sow your wild oats early; in that way, you will have less to sow later.’--What do we need in order to be virtuous? experience; and to have experience, we must have lived! How is that for logic? Doesn’t that smell of Cujas and Barthole?--And dear papa is well, I trust? The stitch in the side hasn’t come back?” “No, but he has a constant itching on the sole of his foot just now.” “Indeed! all he has to do is to scratch.” “It isn’t very convenient to scratch the sole of your foot; you can’t do it while you’re walking. You know my father--it makes him anxious, he’s afraid that it’s some humor.” “Well, that’s an idea! He has chilblains, that’s all.” “I went to friend Fourriette, the druggist’s; he’s making something for father to put on his feet.” “An excellent way to bring on a disease where there isn’t any.--But no matter, you gave us a delightful party! The play, although it wasn’t finished--or perhaps because it wasn’t finished--was very amusing. And the ball and the supper! _Fichtre!_ we did go it!” “I say, what about that young lady that you perched on a branch; it seemed to me that you were very attentive to her.” “Madame Boutillon? Oh, yes!” “It’s a pity that you fell when you were waltzing with her.” “I did it on purpose; it’s a stratagem I invented, to make a woman become attached to me!” “Why? because you throw her down while waltzing?” “To be sure; when she feels herself falling, she clutches me, she clings to me, and squeezes me as tight as she can! Do you understand, young man, what intimate relations that brings about between us?” “To be sure, that’s true.” “Just try it, my dear fellow; take my advice, ask a lady to waltz, then fall with her; and tell me what you think of it.” “Shall I fall underneath or on top?” “Underneath is more polite; but on top is more rakish.” “I will remember that; and at the first ball I go to, if I see a lady who takes my eye, I will ask her to waltz.” “The rest will go all alone!” “And that method served with Madame Boutillon?” “Don’t I tell you that it’s infallible?” “And you call on that lady now?” “To be sure; I play cards with her husband; we play Pope Joan; he’s very fond of it.--And you, little Astianax--whom are you looking for on the boulevard? are you expecting to meet some one?” “Yes, I am expecting some one, who seems in no hurry to come.” “You have an appointment on the boulevard, at the flower market? That is very pleasant; you walk amid agreeable odors. Ladies often make their appointments at the flower market.” “No, I have no appointment; I came here because I am in love with a little flower girl; and very pretty she is! Ah! she beats Madame Boutillon, I tell you!”