Breton was directed to go to the cellars and fetch a dozen bottles of white chambertin.
"You would have won, Vicomte," said the Chevalier, "but for a floating wick." "Your courtesy exceeds everything," returned the vicomte, bowing with drunken exaggeration.
The doors slid back, and Jehan appeared on the threshold.
"Monsieur le Comte," he said, "Monsieur le Marquis, your father, desires to speak to you." Jehan viewed the scene phlegmatically, "What!" The Chevalier set down his glass.

His companions did likewise.
"You are jesting, Jehan." "No, Monsieur.

This moment he commanded me to approach you." "The marquis wishes to speak to me, you say ?" The Chevalier looked about him to see how this news affected his friends.

They were exchanging blank inquiries.

"Tell Monsieur le Marquis that I will be with him presently." "Now, Monsieur; pardon me, but he wishes to see you now." "The devil! Messieurs, accept my excuses.