Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/115

“Why don’t you go and tell her so yourself?” replied Alexander in his magnificent nasal bass.

“Eh? my dear fellow,” said Rodolphe, “I can assure you that I have quite forgot how one sets about saying that sort of thing. In all my love stories it has been my friends who have written the preface, and sometimes even the dénouement; 1 never knew how to begin.”

“It is enough to know how to end,” said Alexander; “but I understand you. I know a girl who loved the oboe, perhaps you would suit her.”

“Ah!” said Rodolphe. “I should like her to have white gloves and blue eyes.”

“The deuce, blue eyes, I won’t say no—but gloves—you know that we can’t have everything at once. However, let us go into the aristocratic regions.”

“There,” said Rodolphe, as they entered the saloon favored by the fashionables of the place, “there is one who seems nice and quiet;” and he pointed out a young girl fairly well dressed who was seated in a corner.

“Very good,” replied Alexander, “keep a little in the background ; I am going to launch the fire-ship of passion for you. When it is necessary to put in an appearance I will call you.”

For ten minutes Alexander conversed with the girl, who from time to time broke out in a joyous burst of laughter, and ended by casting towards Rodolphe a smiling glance which said plainly enough, “Come, your advocate has won his cause.”

“Come,” said Alexander, “the victory is ours, the little one is no doubt far from cruel, but put on an air of simplicity to begin with.”

“You have no need to recommend me to do that.”

“Then give me some tobacco,” said Alexander, “and go and sit down beside her.”