But close the door and come here." Antoine closed the door, came within two steps of Montbar, saluted again, and said: "Ready, master." "In the first place," said Montbar, "if you have no objections, we'll drink a glass of wine to the health of your mistress." "Oh! oh! My mistress!" cried Antoine.

"Can fellows like me afford mistresses?
They're all very well for gentlemen such as you." "Come, you scamp!" said Montbar.

"You can't make me believe that, with your make-up, you've made a vow of chastity." "Oh! I don't say I'm a monk in that particular.

I may have a bit of a love-affair here and there along the high-road." "Yes, at every tavern; and that's why we stop so often with our return horses to drink a drop or fill a pipe." "Confound it!" said Antoine, with an indescribable twist of the shoulders.

"A fellow must have his fun." "Well, taste the wine, my lad.