"What flavors?"
"Strawberry and vanilla."
"Bring me a strawberry, then.--And you, monsieur, won"t you take a strawberry ice?"
This question was addressed to Tobie, who did his utmost to look pleased as he replied:
"Oh, no! I never eat more than one ice, myself. I shouldn"t dream of doing it. I have noticed that if you eat more than one, they are likely to do you a lot of harm; they give you cramps in the stomach."
"Oh! I could eat a dozen; I could eat them all day, without the least bad effect."
"The devil!" thought Tobie; "it"s lucky they haven"t anything but strawberry and vanilla."
The waiter went out and soon returned with the strawberry ice. Again he busied himself arranging the plates and gla.s.ses and spoons, but he left the room at last. Madame Plays attacked the strawberry ice, tasting also the macaroons and biscuits.
"The cost is climbing up," said Tobie to himself; "this woman eats a great deal. If I don"t divert her attention by making love to her, both dishes will soon be empty. I have heard it said that women must always have one sense at work. Let"s try to give her something else to think about."
He drew his chair nearer to Madame Plays, looked her in the eyes, and heaved a tremendous sigh. The fair creature, who was of a very jolly disposition, exclaimed, with a smile:
"Mon Dieu! Monsieur Tobie, what"s the matter with you? You make eyes at me, and breathe so hard!"
"Ah! madame--I see that Albert did very wrong to send me to you."
"How so? do you repent of having conferred a favor on your friend?"
"But if that favor deprives me of my repose, my happiness, my peace of mind!"
"Ha! ha! you are joking. How is your repose endangered, pray?"
At that moment, the showman, standing directly beneath the window of the room occupied by Tobie and his charge, began to announce the performance by tapping with a stick on a huge picture placed beside the entrance of the booth. His voice was so shrill and penetrating that it was impossible for persons in the private rooms not to hear every word he said, even when they paid no attention; and the following dialogue between the young man and his fair companion was necessarily interrupted by the mountebank"s periods:
TOBIE (_trying to take Madame Plays"s hand_).
You ask me how my repose is endangered. Is it possible that you have not divined! Great G.o.d!
THE SHOWMAN.
The show is about to begin, messieurs and mesdames; it is about to begin.
MADAME PLAYS.
Let alone my hand! you are sitting very close to me.
THE SHOWMAN.
Now is the time! the time has come! the show is about to begin!
TOBIE.
Ah! I would like to be even closer. I would like----
THE SHOWMAN.
Come in! come in! buy your tickets! there won"t be enough for everybody!
MADAME PLAYS.
That fellow is insufferable with his yelling!
TOBIE.
Oh! I am not listening to him. I think only of you, whom I adore. Ah! if I could obtain a little corner in your heart!
THE SHOWMAN.
There are seats for six sous, four sous, and some for two sous, for the convenience of the public.
MADAME PLAYS.
But, Monsieur Tobie, really I was very far from expecting this! My heart does not give itself so quickly; and to win it----
THE SHOWMAN.
Military men are admitted for half-price, and may keep on their spurs.
TOBIE.
Ah! if it were necessary to love you like Orlando Furioso, I am capable of it. My love is boundless.
THE SHOWMAN.
It is a wonderful, astounding, miraculous exhibition.
MADAME PLAYS.
But how long have you loved me? It seems to have taken you all of a sudden! I can hardly credit it. Pray, what is there about me that attracts you so?
THE SHOWMAN.
Curiosities such as were never seen in any part of the world.
TOBIE.
What is there about you, madame! You ask me that? Why, in my eyes, you are a divinity!
THE SHOWMAN.
An ostrich with a neck as long as a giraffe, who shows his tongue when you don"t ask him to.