Pagina 361 van 2288

"They ring. A maid-servant opens the door, they hand her the

letter, and assure the maid that they're both so in love that

they'll die on the spot at the door. The maid, stupefied, carries

in their messages. All at once a gentleman appears with whiskers

like sausages, as red as a lobster, announces that there is no

one living in the flat except his wife, and sends them both about

their business."

"How do you know he had whiskers like sausages, as you say?"

"Ah, you shall hear. I've just been to make peace between them."

"Well, and what then?"

"That's the most interesting part of the story. It appears that

it's a happy couple, a government clerk and his lady. The

government clerk lodges a complaint, and I became a mediator, and

such a mediator!... I assure you Talleyrand couldn't hold a

candle to me."

"Why, where was the difficulty?"