"But I cannot take it upon me to dispose of those of my comrades." "But," asked Barbemuche, "for what reasons could they refuse to admit me among them ?" Colline put down the glass which he was just lifting to his mouth, and, in a very serious tone, addressed the rash Carolus, saying, "You cultivate the fine arts ?" "I labor humble in those noble fields of intelligence," replied the other, who felt bound to hang out the colors of his style.
Colline found the phrase well turned, and bowed in acknowledgment.
"You understand music ?" he continued.
"I have played on the bass-viol." "A very philosophical instrument.

Then, if you understand music, you also understand that one cannot, without violation of the laws of harmony, introduce a fifth performer into a quartet; it would cease to be a quartet." "Exactly, and become a quintet." "A quintet, very well, now attend to me.

You understand astronomy ?" "A little, I'm a bachelor of arts." "There is a little song about that," said Colline.

"'Dear bachelor, says Lisette'-- I have forgotten the tune.

Well then, you know that there are four cardinal points.