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only anticipating the victor's happiness！〃
〃Brandy to the rescue！〃 repeated they all； in chorus。 〃Largess！〃
〃Gentlemen；〃 added Ninny Moulin； with enthusiasm； 〃shall we remain
indifferent to the noble example set us by Goodman Cholera？ He said in
his pride； ‘brandy！' Let us gloriously answer； 'punch！'〃
〃Yes； yes！ punch！〃
〃Punch to the rescue！〃
〃Waiter！〃 shouted the religious writer； with the voice of a Stentor；
〃waiter！ have you a pan； a caldron； a hogshead； or any other immensity；
in which we can brew a monster punch？〃
〃A Babylonian punch！〃
〃A lake of punch！〃
〃An ocean of punch！〃
Such was the ambitious crescendo that followed the proposition of Ninny
Moulin。
〃Sir；〃 answered the waiter； with an air of triumph； 〃we just happen to
have a large copper caldron； quite new。 It has been used； and would hold
at least thirty bottles。〃
〃Bring the caldron！〃 said Ninny Moulin； majestically。
〃The caldron forever！〃 shouted the chorus。
〃Put in twenty bottles of brandy； six loaves of sugar； a dozen lemons； a
pound of cinnamon； and thenfire！ fire！〃 shouted the religious writer；
with the most vociferous exclamations。
〃Yes； yes！ fire！〃 repeated the chorus！
The proposition of Ninny Moulin gave a new impetus to the general gayety；
the most extravagant remarks were mingled with the sound of kisses； taken
or given under the pretext that perhaps there would be no to…morrow； that
one must make the most of the present； etc。； etc。 Suddenly； in one of
the moments of silence which sometimes occur in the midst of the greatest
tumult； a succession of slow and measured taps sounded above the ceiling
of the banqueting…room。 All remained silent； and listened。
CHAPTER XXI。
BRANDY TO THE RESCUE。
After the lapse of some seconds； the singular rapping which had so much
surprised the guests； was again heard； but this time louder and longer。
〃Waiter！〃 cried one of the party； 〃what in the devil's name is knocking？〃
The waiter； exchanging with his comrades a look of uneasiness and alarm；
stammered Out in reply： 〃Sirit isit is〃
〃Well！ I suppose it is some crabbed； cross…grained lodger； some animal；
the enemy of joy； who is pounding on the floor of his room to warn us to
sing less loud；〃 said Ninny Moulin。
〃Then； by a general rule；〃 answered sententiously the pupil of the great
painter； 〃if lodger or landlord ask for silence； tradition bids us reply
by an infernal uproar； destined to drown all his remonstrances。 Such； at
least；〃 added the scapegrace； modestly； are the foreign relations that I
have always seen observed between neighboring powers。〃
This remark was received with general laughter and applause。 During the
tumult； Morok questioned one of the waiters； and then exclaimed in a
shrill tone； which rose above the clamor： 〃I demand a hearing！〃
〃Granted！〃 cried the others； gayly。 During the silence which followed
the exclamation of Morok； the noise was again heard； it was this time
quicker than before。
〃The lodger is innocent；〃 said Morok； with a strange smile； 〃and would be
quite incapable of interfering with your enjoyment。〃
〃Then why does he keep up that knocking？〃 said Ninny Moulin； emptying his
glass。
〃Like a deaf man who has lost his ear…horn？〃 added the young artist。
〃It is not the lodger who is knocking〃 said Morok； in a sharp； quick
tone； 〃for they are nailing him down in his coffin。〃 A sudden and
mournful silence followed these words。
〃His coffin no； I am wrong；〃 resumed Morok； 〃her coffin； I should say； or
more properly their coffin； for； in these pressing times； they put mother
and child together。〃
〃A woman！〃 cried PLEASURE； addressing the writer； 〃is it a woman that is
dead？〃
〃Yes； ma'am； a poor young woman about twenty years of age；〃 answered the
waiter in a sorrowful tone。 〃Her little girl； that she was nursing； died
soon afterall in less than two hours。 My master is very sorry that you
ladies and gents should be disturbed in this way； but he could not
foresee this misfortune； as yesterday morning the young woman was quite
well； and singing with all her mightno one could have been gayer than
she was。〃
Upon these words； it was as if a funeral pall had been suddenly thrown
over a scene lately so full of joy； all the rubicund and jovial faces
took an expression of sadness； no one had the hardihood to make a jest of
mother and child； nailed down together in the same coffin。 The silence
became so profound； that one could hear each breath oppressed by terror：
the last blows of the hammer seemed to strike painfully on every heart；
it appeared as if each sad feeling； until now repressed； was about to
replace that animation and gayety； which had been more factitious than
sincere。 The moment was decisive。 It was necessary to strike an
immediate blow； and to raise the spirits of the guests； for many pretty
rosy faces began to grow pale； many scarlet ears became suddenly white；
Ninny Moulin's were of the number。
On the contrary； Sleepinbuff exhibited an increase of audacity； he drew
up his figure； bent down from the effects of exhaustion； and； with a
cheek slightly flushed； he exclaimed： 〃Well； waiter？ are those bottles of
brandy coming？ And the punch？ Devil and all！ are the dead to frighten
the living？〃
〃He's right！ Down with sorrow； and let's have the punch！〃 cried several
of the guests； who felt the necessity of reviving their courage。
〃Forward； punch！〃
〃Begone； dull care！〃
〃Jollity forever！〃
〃Gentlemen； here is the punch；〃 said a waiter； opening the door。 At
sight of the flaming beverage； which was to reanimate their enfeebled
spirits； the room rang with the loudest applause。
The sun had just set。 The room was large； being capable of dining a
hundred guests； and the windows were few； narrow； and half veiled by red
cotton curtains。 Though it was not yet night； some portions of this vast
saloon were almost entirely dark。 Two waiters brought the monster…punch；
in an immense brass kettle； brilliant as gold； suspended from an iron
bar； and crowned with flames of changing color。 The burning beverage was
then placed upon the table； to the great joy of the guests； who began to
forget their past alarms。
〃Now；〃 said Jacques to Morok； in a taunting tone； 〃while the punch is
burning； we will have our duel。 The company shall judge。〃 Then； pointing
to the two bottles of brandy； which the waiter had brought； Jacques
added： 〃Choose your weapon！〃
〃Do you choose；〃 answered Morok。
〃Well！ here's your bottleand here's your glass。 Ninny Moulin shall be
umpire。〃
〃I do not refuse to be judge of the field；〃 answered the religious
writer； 〃only I must warn you； comrade； that you are playing a desperate
game； and that just now； as one of these gentlemen has said； the neck of
a bottle of brandy in one's mouth； is perhaps more dangerous than the
barrel of a loaded pistol。〃
〃Give the word； old fellow！〃 said Jacques； interrupting Ninny Moulin； 〃or
I will give it myself。〃
〃Since you will have it soso be it！〃
〃The first who gives in is conquered；〃 said Jacques。
〃Agreed！〃 answered Morok。
〃Come； gentlemen； attention！ we must follow every movement；〃 resumed
Ni