Then she offered each man refreshments--the house seemed almost like a common drinking-saloon.
But what can daunt the courage of a lover?
Martial endured all this without a murmur.

He laughed and jested with the comers and goers; he shook hands with them; sometimes he even drank with them.
He gave many other proofs of moral courage.

He offered to assist M.
Lacheneur in making up his accounts; and once--it happened about the middle of February--seeing Chanlouineau worrying over the composition of a letter, he actually offered to act as his amanuensis.
"The d----d letter is not for me, but for an uncle of mine who is about to marry off his daughter," said Chanlouineau.
Martial took a seat at the table, and, at Chanlouineau's dictation, but not without many erasures, indited the following epistle: "My dear friend--We are at last agreed, and the marriage has been decided upon.

We are now busy with preparations for the wedding, which will take place on ----.

We invite you to give us the pleasure of your company.