The Alsatian stared at him, greatly astounded.

"Lions!"

"Yes, lions. Don't you see them sometimes?" resumed the poor
fellow, with less confidence.

The Boniface burst out in laughter.

"Ho, ho! bless us! lions! What would we do with lions here?"

"Are there, then, none in Algeria?"

"'Pon my faith, I never saw any, albeit I have been twenty years in
the colony. Still, I believe I have heard tell of such a thing --
leastwise, I fancy the newspapers said -- but that is ever so much
farther inland -- down South, you know" --

At this point they reached the hostelry, a suburban pothouse, with a
withered green bough over the door, crossed billiard-cues painted
on the wall, and this harmless sign over a picture of wild rabbits,
feeding:

"GAME FELLOWS MEET HERE."

"Game fellows!" It made Tartarin think of Captain Bravida.