Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/95

his master, si la sol, fa mi ré. Ah! wretched ré, you ar always the same. I told you it was my instrument.”

“He insists on it,” said Colline to Rodolphe.

“He insists on it,” repeated Rodolphe to Marcel.

And that,” added Schaunard, pointing to the star-adorned petticoat that was lying on a chair, “it is not an adornment of mine, perhaps? Ah!”

And he looked Marcel straight in the face.

“And this,” continued he, unfastening from the wall the notice to quit already spoken of.

And he began to read, “Therefore Monsieur Schaunard is hereby required to give up possession of the said premises, and to leave them in tenantable repair, before noon on the eighth day of April. As witness the present formal notice to quit, the cost of which is five francs.” “Ha! ha! so I am not the Monsieur Schaunard to whom formal notice to quit is given at a cost of five francs? And these, again,” he continued, recognizing his slippers on Marcel’s feet, “are not those my papouches, the gift of a beloved hand? It is your turn, sir,” said he to Marcel, “to explain your presence amongst my household gods.”

“Gentlemen,” replied Marcel, addressing himself more especially to Colline and Rodolphe, “this gentleman,” and he pointed to Schaunard, “is at home, I admit.”

“Ah!” exclaimed Schaunard, “that’s lucky.”

“But,” continued Marcel, “I am at home too.”

“But, sir,” broke in Rodolphe, “if our friend recognizes—”

“Yes,” said Colline, “if our friend—”

“And if on your side you recall that—,” added Rodolphe; “how is it that—”

“Yes,” repeated his echo Colline, “how is it that—”

“Have the kindness to sit down, gentlemen,” replied Marecel, “and I will explain the mystery to you.”