I thought those little devils had all emigrated." "You see there are some left." "And what is Antoine to do to put them in his pocket ?" "Antoine must lend me his best postilion's suit." "To you ?" "And let me take his place to-morrow night." "Ah, yes; so that you can see the beautiful Josephine to-morrow night." "Of course.

I reach Belleville at eight, drive into the courtyard, and say the horses are tired and must rest from eight till ten, and from eight to ten--" "You can fool Pere Lollier." "Well, there you are, Antoine!" "There I am! When a fellow's young he goes with the young 'uns; when he's a bachelor he's in with the bachelors; when he's old and a papa, he can go with the papas, and cry, 'Long live the papas.'" "Then, my good Antoine, you'll lend me your best jacket and breeches ?" "I've just got a new jacket and breeches that I've never worn." "And you'll let me take your place ?" "With pleasure." "Then I'll give you five louis for earnest money." "And the rest ?" "Tomorrow, when I pull on the boots; only--there's one precaution you must take." "What is it ?" "There's talk of brigands robbing diligences; you'll be careful to put the holsters on the saddle." "What for ?" "For pistols." "No, no! Don't you go and shoot those fine young fellows." "What! do you call robbers who pillage diligences fine young men ?" "A man's not a robber because he takes government money." "Is that your opinion ?" "I should say so; besides, it's the opinion of a good many other people, too.

As for me, if I were a judge, I'd never in the world condemn them." "Perhaps you would drink to their health ?" "Of course, if the wine was good." "I dare you to do it," said Montbar, emptying the last of the second bottle into Antoine's glass.
"You know the proverb ?" said the postilion.
"What is it ?" "Never defy a fool to commit his folly.

To the health of the Companions of Jehu." "Amen!" responded Montbar.
"And the five louis ?" asked Antoine, putting his glass on the table.
"There they are." "Thank you; you shall have the holsters on your saddle; but take my advice and don't put pistols in 'em; or if you do, follow Pere Jerome's example--he's the conductor of the Geneva diligence--and put powder and no balls in 'em." And with that philanthropic advice, the postilion took his leave, and went down the stairway singing a postilion's song in a vinous voice.
Montbar followed the song conscientiously through two verses, then, as the voice died away in the distance, he was obliged to forego the rest of the song, however interesting he may have found it..