I forget the other ingredients, but I know nothing was wasted; and I remember that, towards the end, Montmorency, who had evinced great interest in the proceedings throughout, strolled away with an earnest and thoughtful air, reappearing, a few minutes afterwards, with a dead water- rat in his mouth, which he evidently wished to present as his contribution to the dinner; whether in a sarcastic spirit, or with a genuine desire to assist, I cannot say.
Dimentico gli altri ingredienti, ma so che nulla andò sciupato. Ricordo che, verso la fine, Montmorency, il quale aveva mostrato grande interesse a tutte le operazioni, filò via a un tratto, con un’aria grave e pensosa, riapparendo, pochi minuti dopo, con un topo morto in bocca, ch’egli evidentemente voleva presentare come proprio contributo al pasto, se con spirito sarcastico, o con desiderio genuino di fare anche lui la sua parte, non saprei dire.