The enjoyment of his sour-crout, which he devoured with numerous and audible marks of approbation, rendered him heedless of the scrutiny to which he was subjected, but did not prevent him from continuing to read an old book open before him, in which he made marginal notes from time to time with a pencil that he carried behind his ear.
"Hullo!" cried Schaunard suddenly, making his glass ring with his knife, "my stew!" "Sir," said the girl, running up plate in hand, "there is none left, here is the last, and this gentleman has ordered it." Therewith she deposited the dish before the man with the books.
"The deuce!" cried Schaunard.

There was such an air of melancholy disappointment in his ejaculation, that the possessor of the books was moved to the soul by it.

He broke down the pile of old works which formed a barrier between him and Schaunard, and putting the dish in the centre of the table, said, in his sweetest tones: "Might I be so bold as to beg you, sir, to share this with me ?" "Sir," replied the artist, "I could not think of depriving you of it." "Then will you deprive me of the pleasure of being agreeable to you ?" "If you insist, sir," and Schaunard held out his plate.
"Permit me not to give you the head," said the stranger.
"Really sir, I cannot allow you," Schaunard began, but on taking back his plate he perceived that the other had given him the very piece which he implied he would keep for himself.
"What is he playing off his politeness on me for ?" he muttered to himself.
"If the head is the most noble part of man," said the stranger, "it is the least agreeable part of the rabbit.

There are many persons who cannot bear it.

I happen to like it very much, however." "If so," said Schaunard, "I regret exceedingly that you robbed yourself for me." "How?
Excuse me," quoth he of the books, "I kept the head, as I had the honor of observing to you." "Allow me," rejoined Schaunard, thrusting his plate under his nose, "what part do you call that ?" "Good heavens!" cried the stranger, "what do I see?
Another head?
It is a bicephalous rabbit!" "Buy what ?" said Schaunard.
"Cephalous--comes from the Greek.