At any epoch it would not be very wonderful if a humor so peculiar
as the one I have just mentioned, should elicit attention and
remark. At the epoch of our narrative, had this peculiarity not
attracted observation, there would have been room for wonder indeed.
It was soon reported that, upon all occasions of the kind, the smile
of Bon-Bon was wont to differ widely from the downright grin with
which he would laugh at his own jokes, or welcome an acquaintance.
Hints were thrown out of an exciting nature; stories were told of
perilous bargains made in a hurry and repented of at leisure; and
instances were adduced of unaccountable capacities, vague longings,
and unnatural inclinations implanted by the author of all evil for
wise purposes of his own.
The philosopher had other weaknesses- but they are scarcely worthy
our serious examination. For example, there are few men of
extraordinary profundity who are found wanting in an inclination for
the bottle. Whether this inclination be an exciting cause, or rather a
valid proof of such profundity, it is a nice thing to say. Bon-Bon, as
far as I can learn, did not think the subject adapted to minute
investigation;- nor do I. Yet in the indulgence of a propensity so
truly classical, it is not to be supposed that the restaurateur
would lose sight of that intuitive discrimination which was wont to
characterize, at one and the same time, his essais and his
omelettes.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25