"And you believe everything you find in it, I suppose?"
"Ah! I should judge that you were quite capable of it!--But you don't know how to fix your grog, monsieur."
"No, not at all. You keep stirring and stirring; but you don't crush the piece of lemon-peel with your spoon and squeeze out the juice."
"How does it concern you, monsieur, whether I crush my lemon-peel or not? If it suits me to drink my grog like this, am I not at liberty to do it?"
"Oh! to be sure! I give you good advice--you don't want it. As you please! I'll bet that you're looking through the advertisements in the paper to find something to make the hair grow?"
"No, monsieur. Let me tell you that if I wanted hair, I could have as much as anybody."
"I don't doubt it, with your money; you could wear three wigs, one on top of another; that would give you a superb head of hair!"
"But I don't like artificial things, monsieur; I detest what is false! The truth before everything!"
"Ah! I understand, then, why you parade your skull. But if you propose always to show us the truth, that may carry you rather far! That goddess's costume is a little scanty, or rather she has none at all. She appears to the world quite naked! I would like to see you go out in the street in that condition, for love of the truth. I fancy that a police officer wouldn't listen to that excuse. Look you, monsieur, it has often been said that it isn't always well to tell the truth; we might add that it isn't always well to see it. In general, a man is wise to conceal his infirmities, his deformities, and whatever he may have that is unpleasant to look at; he does well to make himself as attractive, or as little unattractive, as possible. To embellish, to seek to please, such seems to be the purpose of nature, everywhere and in everything. Look at a mother with her child: her first care is to dress it up, to try to embellish it. Women are born with the instinct of coquetry; men have it, too, although the rush and hurry of business compels them to pay less heed to their persons. When you take lodgings, your first care is to make them attractive; if you have a garden, you embellish it by planting flowers in it; if you give a dinner party, you want it to be stylish, sumptuous, enriched by handsome plate.--For instance, see this thin glass from which I am drinking my claret: it improves the wine, monsieur; it makes it taste better--for the wine would seem much less delicious to me if it were served in a preserve-jar. And take your own case--would you have liked it if they had brought you your grog in a wash-basin, eh?--Deuce take me! I believe the little fellow isn't listening!" exclaimed Cherami, suddenly interrupting his dissertation. "Where in the world have I seen that face?--Waiter! my coffee!"