Everybody burst out laughing before he even opened his mouth: it was understood from his manner that the story would be a little ... naughty.
He said:
"I do not know if I can speak. There are young ears present."
A movement on the part of the mothers, a glance; and the five young ladies disappeared "without seeming to."
He insisted:
"All the same, I feel bound to warn you that it is a very risqué story. I shall call a spade a spade: local colour demands it."
"Go on, M. Simare!" said somebody. "We are all married people here!"
Gilberte was sitting in the front row of chairs, understanding nothing of the departure of the young girls nor of all this preamable and in absolute ignorance of what was looming ahead.
M. Simare walked up to her, bowed to her
