Part 17 (1/2)
Pelisson, again absorbed in his work, took good care not to answer
”But if Pelisson said you were so,” cried Moliere, ”Pelisson has seriously offended you”
”Do you think so?”
”Ah! I advise you, as you are a gentleman, not to leave an insult like that unpunished”
”_What!_” exclaiht?”
”Once only, with a lieutenant in the light horse”
”What wrong had he done you?”
”It seems he ran aith htly pale; but as, at La Fontaine's declaration, the others had turned round, Moliere kept upon his lips the rallying s to make La Fontaine speak--
”And as the result of the duel?”
”The result was, that on the groundnever again to set foot in my house”
”And you considered yourself satisfied?” said Moliere
”Not at all! on the contrary, I picked upyour pardon, ht you because you were ht So, as I have never known any peace save since you made her acquaintance, do me the pleasure to continue your visits as heretofore, or _ain' And so,” continued La Fontaine, ”he was compelled to resume his friendshi+p with madame, and I continue to be the happiest of husbands”
All burst out laughing Moliere alone passed his hand across his eyes
Why? Perhaps to wipe away a tear, perhaps to sh Alas! we know that Moliere was a moralist, but he was not a philosopher ”'Tis all one,” he said, returning to the topic of the conversation, ”Pelisson has insulted you”
”Ah, truly! I had already forgotten it”
”And I ae him on your behalf”
”Well, you can do so, if you think it indispensable”
”I do think it indispensable, and I a to--”
”Stay,” exclaimed La Fontaine, ”I want your advice”
”Upon what? this insult?”
”No; tell me really nohether _lumiere_ does not rhyme with _orniere_”
”I should make them rhyme”