She was leaning on the arm of the elder M.Renault, who had put spurs on in honor of the ceremony.

Leon followed, having given his arm to Mlle.

Sambucco; the ancient maiden was decorated with the insignia of the Legion of Honor.

On approaching the altar, the bridegroom noticed that his father's legs were as thin as broomsticks, and, when he was about expressing his astonishment, M.
Renault turned around and said to him: "They are thin because they are desiccated; but they are not deformed." While he was giving this explanation, his face altered, his features changed, he shot out a black moustache, and grew terribly like the Colonel.

The ceremony began.