"Are you satisfied, Moses?" said he, already quite his own joyous self
again.
"Burguet!" said I, "Aaron himself, the own brother of Moses, and the
greatest orator of Israel, could not have spoken better than you did;
it was admirable! I owe my peace of mind to you! Whatever you may ask
for so great a service I am ready to give to the extent of my means."
We went down the stairs; the members of the council following us
thoughtfully, one by one. Burguet smiled.
"Do you mean it, Moses?" said he, stopping under the arch.
"Yes, here is my hand."
"Very well!" said he, "I ask you to give me a good dinner at the
_Ville-de-Metz_."
"With all my heart!"
Several citizens, Father Parmentier, Cochois the tax-gatherer, and
Adjutant Muller, were waiting for Burguet at the foot of the mayoralty
steps, to congratulate him. As they were surrounding and shaking hands
with him, Safel came and rushed into my arms; Zeffen had sent him to
learn the news. I embraced him, and said joyously: "Go, tell your
mother that we have won! Take your dinner. I am going to dine at the
_Ville-de-Metz_ with Burguet. Make haste, my child!"
He started running.
"You dine with me, Burguet," said Father Parmentier.
"Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I am engaged to dine with Moses; I will go at
another time."
And, with our arms around each other, we entered Mother Barriere's
large corridor, where there was still the odor of good roasts, in spite
of the blockade.
"Listen, Burguet," said I; "we are going to dine alone, and you shall
choose whatever wines and dishes you like best; you know them better
than I do."