el and Rodolphe maintained the stirrups of
self-possession, expecting the catastrophe, not without anxiety.

The stranger regarded the scene with grave curiosity; from time to time
he opened his mouth as if for a smile; then you might have heard a
noise like that of a window which creaks in shutting. It was the
stranger laughing to himself.

At a quarter before twelve the bill was sent up. It amounted to the
enormous sum of twenty five francs and three-quarters.

"Come," said Marcel, "we will draw lots for who shall go and diplomatize
with our host. It is getting serious." They took a set of dominoes; the
highest was to go.

Unluckily, the lot fell upon Schaunard, who was an excellent virtuoso,
but a very bad ambassador. He arrived, too, at the bar just as the
landlord had lost his third game. Momus was in a fearful bad humor, and,
at Schaunard's first words, broke out into a violent rage. Schaunard was
a good musician, but he had an indifferent temper, and he replied by a
double discharge of slang. The dispute grew more and more bitter, till
the landlord went upstairs, swearing that he would be paid, and that no
one should stir until he was. Colline endeavored to interpose his
pacifying oratory; but, on perceiving a napkin which Colline had made
lint of, the host's anger redoubled; and to indemnify himself, he
actually dared to lay profane hands on the philosopher's hazel overcoat
and the ladies' shawls.

A volley of abuse was interchanged by the Bohemians and the irate
landlord.

The women talked to one another of their dresses and their conquests.

At this point the stranger abandoned his impassible attitude; gradually
he rose, made a step forward, then another, and walked as an ordinary
man might do; he approached the landlord, took him aside, and spoke to
him in a low tone. Rodolphe and Marcel followed him with their eyes. At
length, the host went out, saying to the stranger:

"Certainly, I consent, Monsieur Barbemuche, certainly; arrange it with
them yourself."

Monsieur Barbemuche returned to his table to take his hat; put it on,
turned around to the right, and in three steps came close to Rodolphe
and Marcel. He took off his hat, bowed to the men, waved a salute to the
women, pulled out his handkerchief, blew his nose, and began in a feeble
voice:

"Gentlemen, excuse the liberty I am about to take. For a long time, I
have been burning with desire to make your acquaintance, but have never,
till now,