Три мушкетера

A Procurator’s Dinner

           Ashorterclerkcamebehindthefirst,atallerclerkbehindthesecond,astriplingofadozenyearsrisingbehindthethird.Inall,threeclerksandahalf,which,forthetime,arguedaveryextensiveclientage.

           AlthoughtheMusketeerwasnotexpectedbeforeoneo’clock,theprocurator’swifehadbeenonthewatcheversincemidday,reckoningthattheheart,orperhapsthestomach,ofherloverwouldbringhimbeforehistime.

           Mme.Coquenardthereforeenteredtheofficefromthehouseatthesamemomentherguestenteredfromthestairs,andtheappearanceoftheworthyladyrelievedhimfromanawkwardembarrassment.Theclerkssurveyedhimwithgreatcuriosity,andhe,notknowingwellwhattosaytothisascendinganddescendingscale,remainedtongue-tied.

           "Itismycousin!"criedtheprocurator’swife."Comein,comein,MonsieurPorthos!"

           ThenameofPorthosproduceditseffectupontheclerks,whobegantolaugh;butPorthosturnedsharplyround,andeverycountenancequicklyrecovereditsgravity.

           Theyreachedtheofficeoftheprocuratorafterhavingpassedthroughtheantechamberinwhichtheclerkswere,andthestudyinwhichtheyoughttohavebeen.Thislastapartmentwasasortofdarkroom,litteredwithpapers.Onquittingthestudytheyleftthekitchenontheright,andenteredthereceptionroom.

           Alltheserooms,whichcommunicatedwithoneanother,didnotinspirePorthosfavorably.Wordsmightbeheardatadistancethroughalltheseopendoors.

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