At four o'clock, forty people had arrived.
"Is it not strange," said Fournichon to his wife, "they are all Gascons ?" "Well, what of that?
The captain said they were all countrymen, and he is a Gascon.

M.d'Epernon is from Toulouse." "Then you still believe it was M.d'Epernon ?" "Did he not say three times the famous 'parfandious' ?" Very soon the five other Gascons arrived; the number of guests was complete.

Never was such surprise painted on so many faces; for an hour nothing was heard but "saudioux," "mordioux!" and "cap de Bious!" and such noisy joy, that it seemed to the Fournichons that all Poitou and Languedoc were collected in their room.

Some knew, and greeted each other.
"Is it not singular to find so many Gascons here ?" asked one.
"No," replied Perducas de Pincornay, "the sign is tempting for men of honor." "Ah! is it you ?" said St.Maline, the gentleman with the lackeys, "you have not yet explained to me what you were about to do, when the crowd separated us." "What was that ?" asked Pincornay, reddening.
"How it happens that I met you on the road between Angouleme and Angers without a hat, as you are now ?" "It seems to interest you, monsieur ?" "Ma foi! yes.

Poitiers is far from Paris, and you came from beyond Poitiers." "Yes, from St.Andre de Cubsac." "And without a hat ?" "Oh! it is very simple.