“It is not the first time that Mauclair has fallen asleep in the theater. I remember finding him, one evening, snoring in his little recess, with his snuffbox beside him.”

“Is that long ago?” asked M. Mifroid, carefully wiping his eyeglasses.

“No, not so very long ago.⁠ ⁠… Wait a bit!⁠ ⁠… It was the night⁠ ⁠… of course, yes⁠ ⁠… It was the night when Carlotta⁠—you know, Mr. Commissary⁠—gave her famous ‘ co-ack ’!”

“Really? The night when Carlotta gave her famous ‘ co-ack ’?”