Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/101

in their ears the evangelic motto, which should be the sole charter of humanity, “Love one another.”

At the end of the repast, which closed in somewhat grave mood, Rodolphe rose to propose a toast to the future, and Colline replied in a short speech that was not taken from any book, had no pretension to style, and was merely couched in the good old dialect of simplicity, making that which is so badly delivered so well understood.

“What a donkey this philosopher is!” murmured Schaunard, whose face was buried in his glass; “here is he obliging me to put water in my wine.”

After dinner they went to take coffee at the Café Momus, where they had already spent the preceding evening. It was from that day that the establishment in question became uninhabitable by its other frequenters.

After coffee and nips of liquors the Bohemian clan, definitely founded, returned to Marcel’s lodging, which took the name of Schaunard’s Elysium. Whilst Colline went to order the supper he had promised, the others bought squibs, crackers and other pyrotechnic materials, and before sitting down to table they let off from the windows a magnificent display of fireworks which turned the whole house topsy-turvey, and during which the four friends shouted at the top of their voices—

The next morning they again found themselves all four together but without seeming astonished this time. Before each going about his business they went together and breakfasted frugually at the Café Momus, where they made an appointment for the evening and where for a long time they were seen to return daily.

Such are the chief personages who will re-appear in the episodes of which this volume is made up, a volume which