Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/195

Schaunard articulated, in a nasal tone, some words which made Phémie tremble on her spring foundation.

“Bah!” said Marcel, recovering himself the first; “let us spend a hundred thousand francs for this once!”

“Yes,” said Rodolphe; “they complain of our not being good customers. Let’s astonish them!”

“Ay,” said Colline, “let us give ourselves up to the delights of a splendid banquet! Do we not owe passive obedience to these ladies? Love lives on devotion; wine is the essence of pleasure, pleasure the duty of youth; women are flowers, and must be moistened. Moisten away! Waiter! waiter!” and Colline hung upon the bell-rope with feverish excitement.

Swift as the wind, the waiter came. When he heard talk of Champagne, Burgundy, and various liquors, his physiognomy ran through a whole gamut of astonishment. But there was more to come.

“I have a hole in my inside,” said Mimi; “I should like some ham.”

“And I some sardines, and bread-and-butter,” struck in Musette.

“And I, radishes,” quoth Phémie, “and a little meat with them.”

“Say at once, then, that you want supper,” said Marcel.

“We should have no objection,” answered they.

“Waiter!” quoth Colline, gravely, “bring us all that is requisite for a good supper.”

The waiter turned all the colors of the rainbow. He descended slowly to the bar, and informed his master of the extraordinary orders he had received.

The landlord took it for a joke; but on a new summons from the bell, he ascended himself and addressed Colline, for whom he had a certain respect. Colline explained to him that they wished to see Christmas in his house, and