lves from their intellectual labors by playing
backgammon from ten in the morning till midnight and as the
establishment possess but one backgammon board, they monopolize that, to
the detriment of the other amateurs of the game; and when asked for the
board, they only answer, 'Some one is reading it, call tomorrow.' Thus
the Bosquet party find themselves reduced to playing piquet, or talking
about their old love affairs."

"Thirdly. Monsieur Marcel, forgetting that a cafe is a public place,
brings thither his easel, box of colors, and, in short, all the
instruments of his art. He even disregards the usages of society as far
as to send for models of different sexes; which might shock the morals
of the Bosquet party."

"Fourthly. Following the example of his friend, Monsieur Schaunard talks
of bringing his piano to the cafe and he has not scrupled to get up a
chorus on a motive from his symphony, 'The Influence of Blue in Art.'
Monsieur Schaunard has gone farther: he has inserted in the lantern
which serves the establishment for sign, a transparency with this
inscription:

'COURSE OF MUSIC, VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL,
FOR BOTH SEXES,
GRATIS.
APPLY AT THE COUNTER.'

In consequence of this, the counter aforesaid is besieged every night by
a number of badly dressed individuals, wanting to know where you go in."

"Moreover, Monsieur Schaunard gives meetings to a lady calling herself
Mademoiselle Phemie, who always forgets to bring her bonnet. Wherefore,
Monsieur Bosquet, Jr., has declared that he will never more put foot in
an establishment where the laws of nature are thus outraged."

"Fifthly. Not content with being very poor customers, these gentlemen
have tried to be still more economical. Under pretence of having caught
the mocha of the establishment in improper intercourse with chicory,
they have brought a lamp with spirits-of-wine, and make their own
coffee, sweetening it with their own sugar; all of which is an insult to
the establishment."

"Sixthly. Corrupted by the discourse of these gentlemen, the waiter
Bergami (so called from his whiskers), forgetting his humble origin and
defying all control, has dared to address to the mistress of the house
a piece of poetry suggestive of the most improper sentiments; by the
irregularity of its style, this letter is recognized as a direct
emanation from the pernicious influence of Monsieur Rodolphe and his
literatur