They had not remained there many minutes when a poodle-dog, _bien tondu_, and white as a sheep from the river before the day of shearing, walked up to them with an air of sagacious curiosity, and looked McElvina steadfastly in the face. McElvina, taking his cigar from his mouth, held it to the dog, who ran up to it, as if to smell it; the lighted end coming in contact with his cold nose, induced the animal to set up a loud yell, and retreat to his master much faster than he came, passing first one fore-paw and then the other over his nose, to wipe away the pain, in such a ridiculous manner as to excite loud merriment, not only from our party on the bench, but also from others who had witnessed the scene. "So much for curiosity," said McElvina, continuing his mirth. The proprietor of the dog, a young Frenchman, dressed very much "_en calicot_," did not, however, seem quite so much amused with this practical joke; he cocked his hat fiercely on one side, raised his figure to the utmost of its height, and walking up, _en grand militaire_ addressed McElvina, with "_Comment, monsieur, vous avez fait une grande betise-la--vous m'insultez_--" "I think I had better not understand French," said McElvina, aside to Debriseau; then turning to the Frenchman, with a grave face, and air of incomprehension,--"What did you say, sir?" "Ah! you are Inglishman. You not speak French?"--McElvina shook his head, and began to puff away his cigar. "Den, sare, if you not speak de French language, I speak de Englis like von natif; and I tell you, sare, _que vous m'avez insulte_. Got for dam!--you burnt my dog nose; vat you mean, sare?" "The dog burnt his own nose," answered McElvina, mildly. "Vat you mean? de dog burnt his own nose! How is a dog capable to burn his own nose? Sare, you put de cigar to my dog nose. I must have de _satisfaction_ or de apology _tout de suite_." "But, sir, I have not insulted you." "Sare, you insult my dog--he is von and de same ting--_mon chien est un chien de sentiment_. He feel de affront all de same vid me--I feel de affront all de same vid him. _Vous n'avez qu'a choisir, monsieur_." "Between you and your dog," answered McElvina--"Well, then, I'd rather fight the dog." "Bah! fight de dog--de dog cannot fight, sare: _mais je suis son maitre et son ami_ and I vill fight for him." "Well, then, monsieur, I did insult your dog, I must acknowledge, and I will give him the satisfaction which you require." "And how vill you give de satisfaction to de dog?" "Why, sir, you said just now that he was _un chien de beaucoup de sentiment_:--if he is so, he will accept and properly appreciate my apology."