found a favorable opportunity. Will you allow me to seize the
present one?"

"Certainly, certainly," said Colline. Rodolphe and Marcel bowed, and
said nothing. The excessive delicacy of Schaunard came nigh spoiling
everything.

"Excuse me, sir," said he briskly, "but you have not the honor of
knowing us, and the usages of society forbid--would you be so good as to
give me a pipeful of tobacco? In other respects I am of my friends'
opinion."

"Gentlemen," continued Barbemuche. "I am a disciple of the fine arts,
like yourselves. So far as I have been able to judge from what I have
heard of your conversation, our tastes are the same. I have a most eager
desire to be a friend of yours, and to be able to find you here every
night. The landlord is a brute: but I said a word to him, and you are
quite free to go. I trust you will not refuse me the opportunity of
finding you here again, by accepting this slight service."

A blush of indignation mounted to Schaunard's face. "He is speculating
on our condition," said he. "We cannot accept. He has paid our bill. I
will play him at billiards for the twenty five francs and give him
points."

Barbemuche accepted his proposition, and had the good sense to lose.
This gained him the esteem of the party. They broke up with the
understanding that they were to meet next day.

"Now," said Schaunard, "our dignity is saved. We owe him nothing."

"We can almost ask him for another supper," said Colline.

CHAPTER XII

A BOHEMIAN "AT HOME"

The night when he paid out of his own purse for the supper consumed at
the cafe, Barbemuche managed to make Colline accompany him. Since his
first presence at the meetings of the four friends whom he had relieved
from their embarrassing position, Carolus had especially remarked
Gustave, and already felt an attractive sympathy for this Socrates
whose Plato he was destined to become. It was for this reason he had
chosen him to be his introducer. On the way, Barbemuche proposed that
they should enter a cafe which was still open, and take something to
drink. Not only did Colline refuse, but he doubled his speed in passing
the cafe, and carefully pulled down his hyperphysic hat over his face.

"But why won't you come in?" politely asked the other.

"I have my reasons," replied Colline. "There is a barmaid in that
establishment who is very much addicted to the exact sciences, and I
could not help having a long discussion with her, to avoid whi