This tale called forth hearty laughter. Then a stout party told us at great length that his wife had been his only _bonne fortune_.
We all blessed that gentleman,édé who well deserved the Cross and our esteem.
Monsieur Faisandé's turn having arrived, he reflected, assumed a solemn expression, and held forth thus:
"Love, messieurs, is not such an entertaining, enjoyable, happy-go-lucky affair as you all seem to think. Most of you seek to enter into an intrigue solely to amuse yourselves; but the results, messieurs, all the results that may ensue from cohabitation between a man and a woman, from the carnal sin, from----"
"I was perfectly sure that Monsieur Faisandé would be more indecent than the rest of us when he began upon this subject," said Balloquet; "he has a way of preaching morality that would make a _vivandière_ blush."
"I should be very glad to know what you consider unseemly in my language, Monsieur Balloquet?"
"Your language is excellently well chosen; it is technical; but you produce the effect of a medical book on me; they are most estimable works in themselves, but young women mustn't be allowed to read them. Pray go on, Monsieur Faisandé; I am terribly sorry that I interrupted you, you were beginning so well!"
The Treasury clerk pursed his lips and continued, emphasizing every word:
"I have never had any _bonnes fortunes_, messieurs; and I don't propose to begin now that I am married."
"What a hypocrite!" muttered my stout neighbor. "I don't know the fellow's wife, but I pity her; for I am convinced that she has a mighty poor fellow for a husband."
"What, Monsieur Faisandé! not even some trivial little bit of fooling to tell us? Come, search your memory, did nothing ever happen to you in the Cité? in Rue aux Fèves or Rue Saint-Éloy? There are plenty of frail damsels on those streets, they say."
This time Monsieur Faisandé turned green; he did not know which way to look, and stammered a few inaudible words. Dupréval, observing his evident discomfort, and wishing to put an end to a scene which threatened to lose its comic aspect, hastily asked Montricourt to take the floor.
The dandy smoothed the nascent beard that adorned his chin, then said in a low voice, assuming a serious air: