MR. POUR. The honour was mine, Sir.
ERA. You do not remember my face?
MR. POUR. Yes, yes. (_To_ SBRIGANI) I don"t know him a bit.
ERA. You do not remember that I had the pleasure of drinking with you I don"t know how many times?
MR. POUR. Excuse me. (_To_ SBRIGANI) I don"t know anything about it.
ERA. What is the name of that pastrycook who cooks such capital dinners?
MR. POUR. Pet.i.t-Jean.
ERA. Just so. We used often to go there together to enjoy ourselves.
How do you call that place where people go for a walk?
MR. POUR. The cemetery of the Arenes.
ERA. Exactly. It is there I enjoyed so many happy hours of your pleasant talk. Don"t you remember it all now?
MR. POUR. Pardon me; yes, I remember. (_To_ SBRIGANI) Deuce take me if I do.
SBRI. (_aside to_ MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC). There are a hundred things like that which one is apt to forget altogether.
ERA. Let us embrace, I pray, and renew our former friendship.
SBRI. (_to_ MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC). This man seems to have a great affection for you.
ERA. Tell me some news of all the family. How is that gentleman your ... he who is such an honest man?
MR. POUR. My brother the sheriff?[7]
ERA. Yes.
MR. POUR. He is as well as can be.
ERA. I am delighted to hear it. And that good tempered man? You know, your ...
MR. POUR. My cousin, the a.s.sessor?
ERA. Exactly.
MR. POUR. Always gay and hearty.
ERA. It gives me much pleasure to hear it. And your uncle, the ...
MR. POUR. I have no uncle.
ERA. But you had one in those days?
MR. POUR. No; only an aunt....
ERA. Ah! it"s what I meant; your aunt; Mrs.... How is she?
MR. POUR. She died six months ago.
ERA. Alas! poor woman. She was so good, too!
MR. POUR. We have also my nephew, the canon, who almost died of the smallpox.
ERA. What a pity if it had happened!
MR. POUR. Do you know him also?
ERA. Indeed I do; a tall handsome fellow.
MR. POUR. Not so very tall.
ERA. No; but well-shaped.
MR. POUR. Yes, yes.
ERA. He"s your nephew, isn"t he?
MR. POUR. Yes.
ERA. Son of your brother or your sister?
MR. POUR. True.
ERA. A canon of the church of.... How do you call it?
MR. POUR. Saint Stephen.
ERA. Just so; I don"t know any other.
MR. POUR. (_to_ SBRIGANI). He knows all my relations.
SBRI. He knows you better than you think.
MR. POUR. You must have lived a long time in our town, I see.
ERA. Two whole years.
MR. POUR. You were there, then, when our governor was G.o.dfather to my cousin the a.s.sessor"s child?
ERA. To be sure; I was one of the first invited.