IHADindeedhadaverylongtalkwiththecraftylittlepolitician,andonregainingmyquarters,Ifoundthatdinnerwashalfover.Tobelateatmealswasagainstastandingruleoftheestablishment,andhaditbeenoneoftheFlemishusherswhothusenteredaftertheremovalofthesoupandthecommencementofthefirstcourse,M.Peletwouldprobablyhavegreetedhimwithapublicrebuke,andwouldcertainlyhavemulctedhimbothofsoupandfishasitwas,thatpolitethoughpartialgentlemanonlyshookhishead,andasItookmyplace,unrolledmynapkin,andsaidmyhereticalgracetomyself,hecivillydespatchedaservanttothekitchen,tobringmeaplateof“pureeauxcarottes”(forthiswasamaigre-day),andbeforesendingawaythefirstcourse,reservedformeaportionofthestock-fishofwhichitconsisted.Dinnerbeingover,theboysrushedoutfortheireveningplayKintandVandam(thetwoushers)ofcoursefollowedthem.Poorfellows!iftheyhadnotlookedsoveryheavy,soverysoulless,soveryindifferenttoallthingsinheavenaboveorintheearthbeneath,Icouldhavepitiedthemgreatlyfortheobligationtheywereundertotrailafterthoseroughladseverywhereandatalltimesevenasitwas,IfeltdisposedtoscoutmyselfasaprivilegedprigwhenIturnedtoascendtomychamber,suretofindthere,ifnotenjoyment,atleastlibertybutthisevening(ashadoftenhappenedbefore)Iwastobestillfartherdistinguished.
“Ehbien,mauvaissujet!”saidthevoiceofM.Peletbehindme,asIsetmyfootonthefirststepofthestair,“ouallez-vous?Venezalasalle-a-manger,quejevousgrondeunpeu.”
“Ibegpardon,monsieur,”saidI,asIfollowedhimtohisprivatesitting-room,“forhavingreturnedsolate—itwasnotmyfault.”
“ThatisjustwhatIwanttoknow,”rejoinedM.Pelet,asheusheredmeintothecomfortableparlourwithagoodwood-fire—forthestovehadnowbeenremovedfortheseason.Havingrungthebellheordered“Coffeefortwo,”andpresentlyheandIwereseated,almostinEnglishcomfort,oneoneachsideofthehearth,alittleroundtablebetweenus,withacoffee-pot,asugar-b