--"Because the Prussian was in the next room."

--"Is it possible?"

--"I swear it is true!"--

The Count was choking with laughter. The manufacturer was compressing
his stomach with his hands.

--"And you understand, to-night he does not think it is funny at
all."--

And all three began to laugh again, choking, out of breath.

Thereupon they retired. But Madame Loiseau, who had the prickly
disposition of a nettle remarked to her husband, at the moment
they were going to bed:--"That stuck-up little Madame Carre-Lamadon
laughed deceitfully all evening."

"You know, for women, when they chase uniforms, it does not make
any difference whether the uniforms are French or Prussian. What
a pity, oh Lord!"--

And all night, in the darkness of the hall there were light sounds
like tremors, hardly audible, similar to murmurs, contacts of bare
feet, imperceptible crackings. And they fell asleep quite late,
certainly, because rays of light could be seen for a long time under
the doors. Champagne has such effects; I understand it disturbs
the sleep.