They're a gay lot, although at first they played the aristocrat and kept sneering at me.

After awhile we all got dead drunk.

They'll be here again today--I swear by the fortune of my father! I'll introduce you to them.

There is one writer of feuilletons here; you know, that some one who always lauded you, what's his name?
An amusing fellow, the devil take him! Do you know it would be a good thing to hire one like that for personal use! Give him a certain sum of money and order him to amuse! How's that?
I had a certain coupletist in my employ,--it was rather entertaining to be with him.

I used to say to him sometimes: 'Rimsky! give us some couplets!' He would start, I tell you, and he'd make you split your sides with laughter.