"No, mon cher truant," replied Lothien. "The ministry may vacillate, but it never falls. I've been engaged all night with the Bromosel affair; it seems that the pointy-shoed minister had been making the mint on the side with the Diqui-Dragon stock, which occasioned my having a monumentally boring night sending diplomatic dispatches from Rivendeau. But enough of that: I am hungry, feed me; and I am bored, entertain me. It is the least you can do to make amends."
Réginard provided De Brie with an exquisite cheese of Longue-Clive and a translucent earendillo cigar, and told him a funny story about Boyen-Xènes-Baguines and a goat. "Does this settle my debt as aramphitryondo?"
"Settle it!" cried Lothien. "Most noble Viscount, it leaves me deeply in your debt!"
"Repay me by giving me the latest gossip from the diplomatic world. Has Don Elros found another shaven-footed ballerina with whom to amuse himself?"
"Would I know? I take good care never to read the newspapers!"
As if on cue, the journalist, Monsieur Pierre-Jacques-Philippe-Michel Boyen-Xènes-Baguines arrived and headed straight for the tobacco collection.
"Enter!" cried Réginard, a little belatedly. "Here is De Brie, who detests you without having read you."
