Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/200

Barbemuche, who thought it a good opportunity for saying something very clever.

Colline mused an instant. “There is a little place here,” he said, pointing to a wineshop, “where I stand on a better footing.”

Barbemuche made a face, and seemed to hesitate. “Is it a respectable place?” he demanded.

His cold and reserved attitude, his limited conversation, his discreet smile, and especially his watch-chain with charms on it, all led Colline to suppose that Barbemuche was a clerk in some embassy, and that he feared to compromise himself by going into a wineshop.

“There is no danger of any one seeing us,” said he; “all the diplomatic body is in bed by this time.”

Barbemuche made up his mind to go in, though at the bottom of his heart he would have given a good deal for a false nose. For greater security, he insisted on having a private room, and took care to fasten a napkin before the glass door of it. These precautions taken, he appeared more at ease, and called for a bowl of punch. Excited a little by the generous beverage, Barbemuche became more communicative and, after giving some autobiographical details, made bold to express the hope he had conceived of being personally admitted a member of the Bohemian Club, for the accomplishment of which ambitious design he solicited the aid of Colline.

Colline replied that, for his part, he was entirely at the service of Barbemuche, but, nevertheless, he could make no positive promise. “I assure you of my vote,” said he; “but I cannot take it upon me to dispose of those of my comrades.”

“But,” asked Barbemuche, “for what reasons could they refuse to admit me among them?”

Colline put down the glass which he was just lifting to