The people on the barge were delighted to hear that I admired their state. They understood perfectly well, they told me, how Monsieur envied them. Without doubt Monsieur was rich; and in that case he might make a canal boat as pretty as a villa⁠— joli comme un château . And with that they invited me on board their own water villa. They apologised for their cabin; they had not been rich enough to make it as it ought to be.

“The fire should have been here, at this side,” explained the husband. “Then one might have a writing-table in the middle⁠—books⁠—and” (comprehensively) “all. It would be quite coquettish⁠— ça serait tout-à-fait coquet .” And he looked about him as though the improvements were already made. It was plainly not the first time that he had thus beautified his cabin in imagination; and when next he makes a bit, I should expect to see the writing-table in the middle.