"Ah! true, I forgot the best part of the story. When they called me the Monk of Cologne--where I never was a monk--and the canon of Augsburg--where I never was a cannon--they reproached me for my orgies and debaucheries! My orgies! Let me tell you what they were; for thirty-four years I drank nothing but water and ate nothing but carrots; it is no more than fair that I should eat white bread and meat now. My debaucheries! If they think I threw my frock to the devil to live like Saint Anthony, they are mistaken. Well, there is one way to end all that, and that is to marry. I shall be as faithful a husband and as good a father of a family as another, if citizen Saint-Just will give me time." "Have you at least selected the fortunate lady who is to have the honor of sharing your couch?" asked Edelmann. "Oh!" said Schneider, "so long as there is a woman, the devil himself can look out for her." "To the health of Schneider's future wife!" cried Young; "and since he has left the devil to provide her, may he at least send one who is young, beautiful, and rich." "Hurrah for Schneider's wife!" said Monnet sadly. Just then the door of the dining-room opened, and the old cook appeared on the threshold. "There is a citizeness here," she said, "who wishes to speak to Euloge Schneider on urgent business." "Well," said Schneider, "I know nothing more urgent than my dinner. Tell her to return to-morrow." The old woman disappeared, but returned almost immediately. "She says that to-morrow will be too late." "Then why didn't she come sooner?" "Because that was impossible," said a soft supplicating voice in the ante-chamber. "Let me see you, I beg, I implore you!" Euloge, with a gesture of impatience, bade the old cook pull the door to and come close to him. But then, remembering the freshness and youthfulness of the voice, he said with the smile of a satyr: "Is she young?" "Maybe eighteen," replied the old woman. "Pretty?" "With the devil's own beauty." The three men began to laugh. "You hear, Schneider, the devil's own beauty. "Now," said Young, "we need only find out if she is rich, and there is your wife ready to hand. Open the door, old woman, and don't keep her waiting. You ought to know the pretty child if she comes from the devil." "Why not from God?" asked Charles, in such a sweet voice that the three men started at it. "Because our friend Schneider has quarrelled with God, and he stands very high with the devil. I don't know any other reason." "And because," said Young, "it is only the devil who gives such prompt answers to prayers." "Well," said Schneider, "let her come in."