Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/191

the usages of society so far as to send for models of different sexes; which might shock the morals of the Bosquet party.

“Fourthly. Following the example of his friend, Monsieur Schaunard talks of bringing his piano to the café; and he has not scrupled to get up a chorus on a motive from his symphony, ‘The Influence of Blue in Art.’ Monsieur Schaunard has gone farther: he has inserted in the lantern which serves the establishment for a sign a transparency with this inscription:

In consequence of this, the counter aforesaid is besieged every night by a number of badly-dressed individuals, wanting to know where you go in.

“Moreover, Monsieur Schaunard gives meetings to a lady calling herself Mademoiselle Phémie, who always forgets to bring her bonnet. Wherefore, Monsieur Bosquet, Jr., has declared that he will never more put foot in an establishment where the laws of nature are thus outraged.

“Fifthly. Not content with being very poor customers, these gentlemen have tried to be still more economical. Under pretence of having caught the mocha of the establishment in improper intercourse with chicory, they have brought a lamp with spirits-of-wine, and make their own coffee, sweetening it with their own sugar; all of which is an insult to the establishment.

“Sixthly. Corrupted by the discourse of these gentlemen, the waiter Bergami (so called from his whiskers), forgetting his humble origin and defying all control, has