Thereupon they fell to discussing the respective
merits of their numerous friends and acquaintances--gentlemen of the
same stamp as themselves--and having decided upon four, and determined
to keep an eye upon Agostino, who seemed a clever rascal and might be
of use, they called for another bottle of wine. When that was finished
Jacquemin Lampourde was indisputably drunk, and having loyally kept his
word, retired, somewhat unsteadily, to his own quarters in a high state
of maudlin satisfaction, accompanied by his friend Malartic, whom he had
invited to spend the night with him. By this time--it was nearly four
o'clock in the morning--the Crowned Radish was almost deserted, and
the master of the establishment, seeing that there was no prospect
of further custom, told his servants to rouse up and turn out all the
sleepers--Agostino and Chiquita among the rest--and his orders were
promptly executed.
CHAPTER XIII. A DOUBLE ATTACK
The Duke of Vallombreuse was not a man to neglect his love affairs, any
more than his enemies. If he hated de Sigognac mortally, he felt for
Isabelle that furious passion which the unattainable is apt to excite
in a haughty and violent nature like his, that has never met with
resistance. To get possession of the young actress had become the ruling
thought of his life.
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