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?‰mile, 1840-1902

"Four Short Stories By Emile Zola"


"My children," shouted Bordenave, "you know we're playing tomorrow. Be
careful! Not too much champagne!"
"As far as I'm concerned," said Foucarmont, "I've drunk every imaginable
kind of wine in all the four quarters of the globe. Extraordinary
liquors some of 'em, containing alcohol enough to kill a corpse! Well,
and what d'you think? Why, it never hurt me a bit. I can't make myself
drunk. I've tried and I can't."
He was very pale, very calm and collected, and he lolled back in his
chair, drinking without cessation.
"Never mind that," murmured Louise Violaine. "Leave off; you've had
enough. It would be a funny business if I had to look after you the rest
of the night."
Such was her state of exaltation that Lucy Stewart's cheeks were
assuming a red, consumptive flush, while Rose Mignon with moist eyelids
was growing excessively melting. Tatan Nene, greatly astonished at the
thought that she had overeaten herself, was laughing vaguely over her
own stupidity. The others, such as Blanche, Caroline, Simonne and Maria,
were all talking at once and telling each other about their private
affairs--about a dispute with a coachman, a projected picnic and
innumerable complex stories of lovers stolen or restored.


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