"It's very certain that if I had lived in the time of the Crusades I should have brought from Palestine a thousand Saracens' ears, but my dear Rolande was there. This redoubtable sword, which came to me from a distant cousin, was the one carried by Rolande the Furious; it has sent a devil of a lot of men into the other world."
"I'm always afraid that you will fall over it; it seems to me too big for you."
"It has, however, been curtailed an inch since I have had it, and that by reason of its having been used so much. I fear that if I should continue in the same style, it will become a little dagger."
"Stop talking about your prowess, Chaudoreille; I have to speak to you of matters more interesting than that."
"If you will shave me first; I have great need of it. My beard grows twice as quickly at night when I do not sup in the evening."
"It looks as if you had dieted for some days, then."
While the barber prepared everything that was necessary for shaving Chaudoreille, the latter detached his sword. After having looked all over the shop in search of a place in which it seemed convenient to put it, he decided to keep it on his knees; he relieved himself of his cloak, then he took off the faded ruff which surrounded his neck, and abandoned his odd, lean little figure to the cares of Touquet, who came forward bearing a basin and a soapball. The barber began by taking and throwing into a corner of the shop the sword which Chaudoreille was holding on his knees. The chevalier made a movement of despair, crying,--
"What are you doing, unhappy man? You will break Rolande, the sword which Charlemagne's nephew carried."
"If it's such a good blade it won't break. How do you think I can shave you holding that great halberd on your knee?"
"It's necessary to handle it with care at least. Zounds! you are nearly as quick as I am."
"No, no,--never. A chevalier without mustaches! What are you thinking of? Do you want people to take me for a young girl?"
"I don't think anyone could so deceive himself."
"That's all right; I especially pride myself on my mustaches, and the imperial that gives a masculine air. Ah, King Francis the First knew very well what he was doing when he wore that little pointed beard on his chin. Don't you think that I bear some resemblance to that monarch?"