"Madame Capet, you would not be so sensitive to smoke if you would
only join me. I beg you, therefore, to take this cigar."
The queen repeated calmly, "I do not smoke."
"You mistake, madame, you do smoke."
"See the jolly fellow," exclaimed Simon, "that is splendid."
"I will show you at once that you do smoke," continued Toulan.
"Madame, if you will do me the honor to join me in smoking a cigar,
I will give you my word as a republican and a sans-culottes, that
neither I nor my brothers will ever smoke here again."
"I do not believe you," said the queen, shaking her head.
"Not believe me? Would you believe it if the citizen Simon were to
repeat it?"
"Yes," said the queen, fixing her great, sad eyes upon Simon, "if
the citizen Simon should confirm it, I would believe it, for he is a
trustworthy man, who I believe; never breaks his word."
"Oh! only see how well the Austrian understands our noble brother
Simon," cried Lepitre.
"Yes, truly, it seems so," said Simon, who had been flattered by
this praise to consent to what he had no inclination for. "Well, I
give my word to Widow Capet, as a republican and a sans-culottes,
that there shall be no smoking in the anteroom after this time, if
she will do my friend Toulan the favor of smoking a pipe of peace
with him."
"I believe your word," said the queen, with a gentle inclination of
her head; and then turning to Toulan, she continued, "sir--"
"There are no 'sirs' here, only 'citizens,'" interrupted the
cobbler.
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