"And furthermore, you know the news, at least?"

"And furthermore, rather? Tartarin's setting out, at least?"

For at Tarascon all phrases begin with "and furthermore," and
conclude with "at least," with a strong local accent. Hence, on this
occasion more than upon others, these peculiarities rang out till the
windows shivered.

The most surprised of men in the town on hearing that Tartarin was
going away to Africa, was Tartarin himself. But only see what
vanity is! Instead of plumply answering that he was not going at
all, and had not even had the intention, poor Tartarin, on the first of
them mentioning the journey to him, observed with a neat little
evasive air, "Aha! maybe I shall -- but I do not say as much." The
second time; a trifle more familiarised with the idea, he replied,
"Very likely;" and the third time, "It's certain."

Finally, in the evening, at Costecalde's and the club, carried away by
the egg-nogg, cheers, and illumination; intoxicated by the
impression that bare announcement of his departure had made on
the town, the hapless fellow formally declared that he was sick of
banging away at caps, and that he would shortly be on the trail of
the great lions of the Atlas. A deafening hurrah greeted this
assertion. Whereupon more egg-nogg, bravoes, handshaking,
slappings of the shoulder, and a torchlight serenade up to midnight
before Baobab Villa.

It was Sancho-Tartarin who was anything but delighted. This idea
of travel in Africa and lion-hunting made him shudder beforehand;