Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/96

“If we were to liquify the explanation?” risked Colline.

“Over a mouthful of something,” added Rodolphe.

The four young fellows sat down to table and attacked a piece of cold veal which the wine-shop keeper had let them have.

Marcel then explained what had taken place in the morning between himself and the landlord when he had come to move in.

“Then,” observed Rodolphe, “this gentleman is quite right, and we are in his place?”

“You are at home,” said Marcel politely.

But it was a tremendous task to make Schaunard understand what had taken place. A comical incident served to further complicate the situation. Schaunard, when looking for something in a sideboard, found the change of the five hundred franc note that Marcel had handed to Monsieur Bernard that morning.

“Ah! I was quite sure,” he exclaimed, “that Fortune would not desert me. I remember now that I went out this morning to run after her. On account of its being quarter-day she must have looked in during my absence. We crossed one another on the way, that is it. How right I was to leave the key in my drawer!”

“Delightful madness!” murmured Rodolphe, looking at Schaunard, who was building up the money in equal piles.

“A dream, a falsehood, such is life,” added the philosopher.

Marcel laughed.

An hour later they had all four fallen asleep.

The next day they woke up at noon, and at first seemed very much surprised to find themselves together. Schaunard, Colline, and Rodolphe did not appear to recognize one another, and addressed one another as “sir.” Marcel