Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/198

acquaintance, but have never, till now, found a favorable opportunity. Will you allow me to seize the present one?”

“Certainly, certainly,” said Colline. Rodolphe and Marcel bowed, and said nothing. The excessive delicacy of Schaunard came nigh spoiling everything.

“Excuse me, sir,” said he briskly, “but you have not the honor of knowing us; and the usages of society forbid—would you be so good as to give me a pipeful of tobacco? In other respects I am of my friends’ opinion.”

“Gentlemen,” continued Barbemuche, “I am a disciple of the fine arts, like yourselves. So far as I have been able to judge from what I have heard of your conversation, our tastes are the same. I have a most eager desire to be a friend of yours, and to be able to find you here every night. The landlord is a brute: but I said a word to him, and you are quite free to go. I trust you will not refuse me the opportunity of finding you here again, by accepting this slight service.”

A blush of indignation mounted to Schaunard’s face. “He is speculating on our condition,” said he; “we cannot accept. He has paid our bill: I will play him at billiards for the twenty-five francs, and give him points.”

Barbemuche accepted the proposition, and had the good sense to lose. This gained him the esteem of the party. They broke up with the understanding that they were to meet the next day.

“Now,” said Schaunard, “our dignity is saved; we owe him nothing.”

“We can almost ask him for another supper,” said Colline.