Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/352

know the whole story, and if I did not, I could read it in your face.”

“Take care, you are making a mistake,” said Rodolphe, “I am very much annoyed this evening, it is true, but you have not exactly hit on the cause of my annoyance.”

“Good, but why defend yourself? It is quite natural. A connection that has lasted a couple of years cannot be broken off so readily.”

“Every one tells me the same thing,” said Rodolphe, getting impatient. “Well, upon my honor, you make a mistake, you and the others. I am very vexed, and I look like it, that is possible, but this is the reason why, I was expecting my tailor with a new dress-coat to-day, and he has not come, that is what I am annoyed about.”

“Bad, bad,” said the other laughing.

“Not at all bad, but good on the contrary, very good, excellent in fact. Follow my argument and you shall see.”

“Come,” said the poet, “I will listen to you. Just prove to me how any one can in reason look so wretched because a tailor has failed to keep his word. Come, come, I am waiting.”

“Well,” said Rodolphe, “you know very well that the greatest effects spring from the most trifling causes. I ought this evening to pay a very important visit, and I cannot do so for want of a dress-coat. Now do you see it?”

“Not at all. There is up to this no sufficient reason shown for a state of desolation. You are in despair because— You are very silly to try to deceive. That is my opinion.”

“My friend,” said Rodolphe, “you are very opinionated. It is always enough to vex us when we miss happiness, and at any rate pleasure, because it is almost always so much lost for ever, and we are wrong in saying, ‘I will make up for it another time.’ I will resume; I had an appointment