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of the world； or else I should pick a quarrel with you for having kissed
my lovely LOVE。〃
〃Which proves to you； O Rubens！ O Raphael！ the thousand advantages of the
Cholera； whom I declare to be essentially sociable and caressing。〃
〃And philanthropic；〃 said one of the guests； 〃thanks to him； creditors
take care of the health of their debtors。 This morning a usurer； who
feels a particular interest in my existence； brought me all sorts of
anti…choleraic drugs； and begged me to make use of them。〃
〃And I！〃 said the pupil of the great painter。 〃My tailor wished to force
me to wear a flannel band next to the skin； because I owe him a thousand
crowns。 But I answered ‘Oh； tailor； give me a receipt in full； and I
will wrap myself up in flannel； to preserve you my custom！'〃
〃O Cholera； I drink to thee！〃 said Ninny Moulin； by way of grotesque
invocation。 〃You are not Despair； on the contrary； you are the emblem of
Hopeyes； of hope。 How many husbands； how many wives； longed for a
number （alas！ too uncertain chance） in the lottery of widowhood！ You
appear； and their hearts are gladdened。 Thanks to you； benevolent pest！
their chances of liberty are increased a hundredfold。〃
And how grateful heirs ought to be！ A colda heata trifleand there；
in an hour； some old uncle becomes a revered benefactor！〃
〃And those who are always looking out for other people's placeswhat an
ally they must find in the Cholera！〃
〃And how true it will make many vows of constancy！〃 said Modeste；
sentimentally。 〃How many villains have sworn to a poor； weak woman； to
love her all their lives； who never meant （the wretches！） to keep their
word so well！〃
〃Gentlemen；〃 cried Ninny Moulin； 〃since we are now； perhaps； at the eve
of the end of the world； as yonder celebrated painter has expressed it； I
propose to play the world topsy…turvy： I beg these ladies to make
advances to us； to tease us； to excite us； to steal kisses from us； to
take all sorts of liberties with us； and （we shall not die of it） even to
insult us。 Yes； I declare that I will allow myself to be insulted。 So；
LOVE； you may offer me the greatest insult that can be offered to a
virtuous and modest bachelor；〃 added the religious writer； leaning over
towards his neighbor； who repulsed him with peals of laughter； and the
proposal of Ninny Moulin being received with general hilarity； a new
impulse was given to the mirth and riot。
In the midst of the uproar； the waiter； who had before entered the room
several times； to whisper uneasily to his comrades； whilst he pointed to
the ceiling； again appeared with a pale and agitated countenance；
approaching the man who performed the office of butler； he said to him；
in a low voice； tremulous with emotion： 〃They are come！〃
〃Who？〃
〃You knowup there〃； and he pointed to the ceiling。
〃Oh！〃 said the butler； becoming thoughtful； 〃where are they？〃
〃They have just gone upstairs； they are there now；〃 answered the waiter；
shaking his head with an air of alarm； 〃yes； they are there！〃
〃What does master say？〃
〃He is very vexed； because〃 and the waiter glanced round at the guests。
〃He does not know what to do； he has sent me to you。〃
〃What the devil have I to do with it？〃 said the other； wiping his
forehead。 〃It was to be expected； and cannot be helped。〃
〃I will not remain here till they begin。〃
〃You may as well go； for your long face already attracts attention。 Tell
master we must wait for the upshot。〃
The above incident was scarcely perceived in the midst of the growing
tumult of the joyous feast。 But； among the guests； one alone laughed
not； drank not。 This was Jacques。 With fixed and lurid eye； he gazed
upon vacancy。 A stranger to what was passing around him； the unhappy man
thought of the Bacchanal Queen； who had been so gay and brilliant in the
midst of similar saturnalia。 The remembrance of that one being； whom he
still loved with an extravagant love； was the only thought that from time
to time roused him from his besotted state。
It is strange； but Jacques had only consented to join this masquerade
because the mad scene reminded him of the merry day he had spent with
Cephysethat famous breakfast； after a night of dancing； in which the
Bacchanal Queen； from some extraordinary presentiment； had proposed a
lugubrious toast with regard to this very pestilence； which was then
reported to be approaching France。 〃To the Cholera！〃 had she said。 〃Let
him spare those who wish to live； and kill at the same moment those who
dread to part！〃
And now； at this time； remembering those mournful words； Jacques was
absorbed in painful thought。 Morok perceived his absence of mind； and
said aloud to him； 〃You have given over drinking； Jacques。 Have you had
enough wine？ Then you will want brandy。 I will send for some。〃
〃I want neither wine nor brandy；〃 answered Jacques； abruptly； and he fell
back into a sombre reverie。
〃Well； you may be right；〃 resumed Morok； in a sardonic tone； and raising
his voice still higher。 〃You do well to take care of yourself。 I was
wrong to name brandy in these times。 There would be as much temerity in
facing a bottle of brandy as the barrel of a loaded pistol。〃
On hearing his courage as a toper called in question； Sleepinbuff looked
angrily at Morok。 〃You think it is from cowardice that I will not drink
brandy！〃 cried the unfortunate man； whose half…extinguished intellect was
roused to defend what he called his dignity。 〃Is it from cowardice that
I refuse； d'ye think； Morok？ Answer me！〃
〃Come； my good fellow； we have all shown our pluck today；〃 said one of
the guests to Jacques； 〃you； above all； who； being rather indisposed； yet
had the courage to take the part of Goodman Cholera。〃
〃Gentlemen；〃 resumed Morok； seeing the general attention fixed upon
himself and Sleepinbuff； 〃I was only joking； for if my comrade （pointing
to Jacques） had the imprudence to accept my offer； it would be an act；
not of courage； but of foolhardiness。 Luckily； he has sense enough to
renounce a piece of boasting so dangerous at this time； and I〃
〃Waiter！〃 cried Jacques； interrupting Morok with angry impatience； 〃two
bottles of brandy； and two glasses！〃
〃What are you going to do？〃 said Morok； with pretended uneasiness。 〃Why
do you order two bottles of brandy？〃
〃For a duel；〃 said Jacques； in a cool； resolute tone。
〃A duel！〃 cried the spectators； in surprise。
〃Yes；〃 resumed Jacques； 〃a duel with brandy。 You pretend there is as
much danger in facing a bottle of brandy as a loaded pistol； let us each
take a full bottle； and see who will be the first to cry quarter。〃
This strange proposition was received by some with shouts of joy； and by
others with genuine uneasiness。
〃Bravo！ the champions of the bottle！〃 cried the first。
〃No； no； there would be too much danger in such a contest；〃 said the
others。
〃Just now；〃 added one of the guests； 〃this challenge is as serious as an
invitation to fight to the death。〃
〃You hear；〃 said Morok； with a diabolical smile； 〃you hear； Jacques？
Will you now retreat before the danger？〃
At these words； which reminded him of the peril to which he was about to
expose himself； Jacques started； as if a sudden idea had occurred to him。
He raised his head proudly； his cheeks were slightly flushed； his eye
shone with a kind of gloomy satisfaction； and he exclaimed in a firm
voice： 〃Hang it； waiter！ are you deaf？ I asked you for two bottles of
brandy。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the waiter； going to fetch them； although himself
frightened at what might be the result of this bacchanalian struggle。
But the mad and perilous resolution of Jacques was applauded by the
majority。
Ninny Moulin moved about on his chair； stamped his feet； and shouted with
all his might： 〃Bacchus and drink！ bottles and glasses！ the throats are
dry！ brandy to the rescue！ Largess！ largess！〃
And； like a true champion of the tournament； he embraced Modeste； adding；
to excuse the liberty： 〃Love； you shall be the Queen of Beauty； and I am
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！〃 repeat