human
Who wants some rabbit--a little more of the _gibelotte_? said Sans-Cravate, helping himself from an enormous dish, in which the party had already made a considerable breach.
gpt
No one speaks, so I help myself.
human
Give me just a bit,
gpt
That's right! cried Sans-Cravate, as he helped his comrade;
human
No, indeed, Paul replied, with a smile;
gpt
Monsieur has something on his mind, and that fills the stomach at the same time!
human
Never mind, rejoined Sans-Cravate;
gpt
I don't propose to scold him, as long as he came, although he don't seem to be enjoying himself any too much with us.
human
said Bastringuette, in a sarcastic tone;
gpt
Do I?
human
No; but you're acquainted with people that put on airs and wear gloves! Upon my word, continued Bastringuette, with a sigh,
gpt
I've a right good mind to change my trade. I'm not going to sell flowers any more; I'm going to fly higher.
human
And sell oranges, eh?
gpt
Bah! better than that.
human
Herrings, then?
gpt
What a fool! I tell him I'm going to rise in the world, and he wants me to lower myself to herring! I'm going to be a trousers maker, and save up money; save up money to buy a shop with. I sew well enough now, and I've always had a liking for trousers; that's not surprising, as my mother used to sell 'em under the pillars in the Market.
human
Well, don't you worry, sun of my heart; if I often have days like to-day, I'll soon have enough nuggets to buy you a well-stocked shop.
gpt
Oh, yes! retorted Bastringuette, with a shrug;
human
What's that? does anyone owe you money? cried Jean Ficelle, gazing at Sans-Cravate in amazement.
gpt
Do you mean to say you've got funds invested? have you had a legacy without telling a friend anything about it? Pass me some more rabbit, then.
human
No, no! do you pay any attention to what Bastringuette says? she's talking about some people that I helped to move. There was mighty little to move, and it didn't tire me much; and then, I'd sawed half a cord of wood and done a few errands, so that they owed me six or seven francs, perhaps--a magnificent sum!
gpt
Oh, yes! it's always like that, rejoined the girl.
human
Look you--it was last winter; freezing cold, but bright sunlight, and I'd had an idea for a long time that I'd like to go by the railroad to Corbeil, and then take a walk in the forest of Fontainebleau, where they say there's snakes--and I'm very curious to see one, yes, and a big one, too; I've never been afraid of the beasts. So I says to Sans-Cravate: 'You're going to take me to Fontainebleau on the railroad, and we'll have a little spree down there in the country, on the grass; it'll be a little cold, but all the more fun for that; I like to eat and drink on the grass. It's a long time since I've been in the country, and it'll do me good.'--Sans-Cravate felt in his pocket, and found he had only five francs. I says: 'That's a little scant to do things up brown on the grass; we ought to have at least twice that. Let's see if there ain't some way of getting some more cash.'--At that, he says: 'I've got some customers that owe me something; among others that family that lives on the fifth in Rue des Martyrs, that I moved six months ago.'--'Well,' I says, 'if you wait any longer, they'll be moving again, and without your help this time. Go and get your money; a poor messenger has the right to ask for what's owing him, after six months.'--And I urged him so that he decided to go there, but what do you suppose he did?
gpt
Smashed everything to make 'em pay him, said Jean Ficelle;
human
Oh! no, you wouldn't, said Sans-Cravate;
gpt
That's very well, but he don't tell you the whole story, cried Bastringuette;
human
Ah! that was fine, Sans-Cravate! that was a fine thing you did! you have a warm heart, you're a good fellow!
gpt
Oh! _pardi!_ what a fuss over nothing! rejoined the messenger, filling his glass;
human
If all creditors acted like that, muttered Jean Ficelle,