raid of being recognized; he would give his little
finger to grow three hairs on his upper lip, and to have a wrinkle on
his brow, to be able to smoke a cigar without being sick, and to polish
off a glass of punch without coughing.

When we reached my friend's, the aforesaid examining magistrate, we
found a numerous company; from the anteroom we could hear bursts of
laughter, noisy conversation, accompanied by the clatter of plate and
crockery, which was being placed upon the table. I was a little excited;
I knew that I was the youngest of the party, and I was afraid of
appearing awkward on that night of revelry. I said to myself: "Old
boy, you must face the music, do the grand, and take your liquor like a
little man; your sweetheart is here, and her eyes are fixed on you." The
idea, however, that I might be ill next morning did indeed trouble me;
in my mind's eye, I saw my poor mother bringing me a cup of tea, and
weeping over my excesses, but I chased away all such thoughts and really
all went well up till suppertime. My sweetheart had been pulled about a
little, no doubt; one or two men had even kissed her under my very nose,
but I at once set down these details to the profit and loss column, and
in all sincerity I was proud and happy.

"My young friends," suddenly exclaimed our host, "it is time to use your
forks vigorously. Let us adjourn to the diningroom."

Joyful shouts greeted these words, and, amid great disorder, the guests
arranged themselves round the table, at each end of which I noticed
two plates filled up with those big cigars of which I could not smoke a
quarter without having a fit of cold shivers.

"Those cigars will lead to a catastrophe, if I don't use prudence and
dissemble," said I to myself.

I do not know how it was, but my sweetheart found herself seated on the
left of the host. I did not like that, but what could I say? And then,
the said host, with his twenty-five summers, his moustache curled up at
the ends, and his self-assurance, seemed to me the most ideal, the most
astounding of young devils, and I felt for him a shade of respect.

"Well," he said, with captivating volubility, "you are feeling yourself
at home, are you not? You know any guest who feels uncomfortable in his
coat may take it off... and the ladies, too. Ha! ha! ha! That's the way
to make one's self happy, is it not, my little dears?" And before he had
finished laughing he printed a kiss right and left on the necks of