"Ah! charming, delightful!" cried Alfred.
"I have seen that done before, but I had forgotten it," said Zizi; "wait; I believe that I can do it."
The young actress did exactly as Roncherolle had done, and succeeded perfectly.
"Do that! why that's the ass's bridge!" replied the man of letters, with a shrug.
"No, I didn't come to dinner to play tricks."
"That's a pity," said Roncherolle, "for I am sure that monsieur must know some that we do not."
"In that case," said Saint-Arthur, filling a glass to the brim with champagne and putting it on a plate, "it's my turn; now that I have seen the thing done twice, I don't see why I shouldn't do it too; I am no more of a fool than other people."
"That's too bad, my dear; if you were, it would be a way of attracting attention!"
"Hush, Zizi! don't say nasty things, but watch; I am going to begin."
The pretty youth succeeded in raising the glass to his lips, but just as he was about to drink, he lifted the plate too high, and all the contents of the glass fell on his shirt and his cravat. Alfred cried aloud in dismay, while his three guests roared with laughter, that incident having restored Jéricourt's good humor.
"_Sapristi!_ I am done for. I was on the edge of success, for I certainly should have drunk it all without spilling a drop."
"But you didn't spill a drop," said Roncherolle; "the whole business went."
"I am wet through, my shirt is drenched and my cravat; what shall I do? I can't show myself in this condition."
"Well then, don't show yourself, my friend, keep out of sight. At all events, it will be dark when you leave here, and you'll only need to button your coat military fashion; that will give you the air of a hero, it will change you completely."
"Nonsense! take a napkin and wipe yourself, and above all things don't be sulky; we came here to enjoy ourselves, and you still have to learn thirty-one ways of drinking champagne."
Saint-Arthur made no reply; he stuffed three napkins into his bosom and began to eat again.
"Deuce take it! my dear man," said Jéricourt, drinking his wine slowly, "that is what comes of trying to learn original things in order to make yourself agreeable in society; you don't always succeed."
"In fact, there are some people who never succeed," observed Roncherolle.