M. Fournichon, however, stuck to his sign, and replied that he preferred
fighting men, and that one of them drank as much as six lovers.

About a month before the execution of Salcede, the host and hostess, all
of whose rooms were then empty, were looking out of the window, sadly,
and were watching the exercises of some soldiery on the Pre-aux-Clercs,
when they saw an officer, followed by a single soldier, advancing toward
their hotel. He was about to pass, when the host called out loudly--"Oh!
wife, what a beautiful horse!"

Madame Fournichon replied in an equally audible voice, "And what a
handsome cavalier!"

The officer, who did not appear insensible to flattery, raised his head
and looked first at the host and hostess and then at the hotel.
Fournichon ran rapidly downstairs and appeared at the door.

"Is the house empty?" asked the officer.

"Yes, monsieur; just at present," replied the host, humiliated; "but it
is not usually so."

However, Dame Fournichon, like most women, was more clear-sighted than
her husband, and called out, "If monsieur desires solitude, he will find
it here."

"Yes, my good woman, that is what I desire, at present," said the
officer, who dismounted, threw the bridle to the soldier, and entered
the hotel.