But he stopped, astonished at seeing Cisy, and that Cisy had taken his own seat.
Another cover was brought; and, as he was very hungry, he snatched up at random from what remained of the dinner some meat which was in a dish, fruit out of a basket, and drank with one hand while he helped himself with the other, all the time telling them the result of his mission. The two bow-wows had been taken home. Nothing fresh at the house. He had found the cook in the company of a soldier--a fictitious story which he had especially invented for the sake of effect.
The Maréchale took down her cloak from the window-screw. Frederick made a rush towards the bell, calling out to the waiter, who was some distance away:
"I have one of my own," said the Vicomte.
And they stared into each other's eyes, both pale and their hands trembling.
At last, the Maréchale took Cisy's arm, and pointing towards the Bohemian seated at the table:
"Pray mind him! He's choking himself. I wouldn't care to let his devotion to my pugs be the cause of his death."
He completed the sentence with a gesture.
Hussonnet did not press the matter further.
He had an object in inviting himself to dinner. His journal,--which was no longer called _L'Art_, but _Le Flambart_,[14] with this epigraph, "Gunners, to your cannons!"--not being at all in a flourishing condition, he had a mind to change it into a weekly review, conducted by himself, without any assistance from Deslauriers. He again referred to the old project and explained his latest plan.
Frederick, probably not understanding what he was talking about, replied with some vague words. Hussonnet snatched up several cigars from the tables, said "Good-bye, old chap," and disappeared.
Frederick called for the bill. It had a long list of items; and the waiter, with his napkin under his arm, was expecting to be paid by Frederick, when another, a sallow-faced individual, who resembled Martinon, came and said to him:
"Beg pardon; they forgot at the bar to add in the charge for the cab."
"The cab the gentleman took a short time ago for the little dogs."
And the waiter put on a look of gravity, as if he pitied the poor young man. Frederick felt inclined to box the fellow's ears. He gave the waiter the twenty francs' change as a _pour-boire_.