23. Bouqui's Wedding Feast.


 Cric ?
 Crac !

 WHEN Bouqui was about to get married his parents sent
 out invitations to every family in the neighborhood except
 that of Malice. Pere Bouqui had just been outwitted so
 badly by the young Malice that he swore as long as he
 should live he would not let the tricky lad or his father
 outwit him again. <May lightning strike me dead if I do,
 was his oath.
 Pere Malice and his son refused to be resigned to the
snobbish attitude of the Bouquis. One way or another they
would get into the wedding feast, Pere Malice said.
 On the wedding evening, right after the ceremony, Pere
Malice and Ti-Malice disguised themselves as drummers and
went to the reception, after which there would be a great
dance. They were welcomed, for the men who were to beat
the drums for the dance had drunk too much tafia, and
could not hold their heads up. Pere Malice and Ti-Malice
were led under the arbor which had been so dark that
Compare Coucouille, the lightning-bug, had been called
upon to light it.