Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/199

The night when he paid out of his own purse for the supper consumed at the café, Barbemuche managed to make Colline accompany him. Since his first presence at the meetings of the four friends whom he had relieved from their embarrassing position, Carolus had especially remarked Gustave, and already felt an attractive sympathy for this Socrates whose Plato he was destined to become. It was for this reason he had chosen him to be his introducer. On the way, Barbemuche proposed that they should enter a café which was still open, and take something to drink. Not only did Colline refuse, but he doubled his speed in passing the café, and carefully pulled down his hyperphysic hat over his face.

“But why won’t you come in?” politely insisted the other.

“I have my reasons,” replied Colline; “there is a barmaid in that establishment who is very much addicted to the exact sciences, and I could not help having a long discussion with her, to avoid which I never pass through this street at noon, or any other time of day. To tell you the truth,” added he, innocently, “I once lived with Marcel in this neighborhood.”

“Still I should be very glad to offer you a glass of punch, and have a few minutes’ talk with you. Is there no other place in the vicinity where you could step in without being hindered by any mathematical difficulties?” asked