If we
haven't a house we've time enough.'
"'Where will you sleep?'
"'Oh, we'll find somewhere, don't worry, for the little time we have
to kill here.'
"'Yes, we'll find somewhere, all right,' I said. 'Come in again for
a minute meanwhile--I won't take no--and Mariette sees us enter once
more in single file, all five of us soaked like bread in soup.
"So there we all were, with only one little room to go round in and
go round again--the only room in the house, seeing that it isn't a
palace.
"'Tell me, madame,' says one of our friends, 'isn't there a cellar
here?'
"'There's water in it,' says Mariette; 'you can't see the bottom
step and it's only got two.'
"'Damn,' says the man, 'for I see there's no loft, either.'
"After a minute or two he gets up: 'Good-night, old pal,' he says to
me, and they get their hats on.
"'What, are you going off in weather like this, boys?'
"'Do you think,' says the old sport, 'that we're going to spoil your
stay with your wife?'
"'But, my good man--'
"'But me no buts. It's nine o'clock, and you've got to take your
hook before day. So good-night. Coming, you others?'
"'Rather,' say the boys. 'Good-night all.'
"There they are at the door and opening it. Mariette and me, we look
at each other--but we don't move. Once more we look at each other,
and then we sprang at them. I grabbed the skirt of a coat and she a
belt--all wet enough to wring out.
"'Never! We won't let you go--it can't be done.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145