Abellrang;itwasfordinner，andIwentdownstairs.MadameRadevintookmyarminaceremoniousmanner，andwepassedintothedining—room.
Afootmanwheeledintheoldmaninhisarmchair.Hegaveagreedyandcuriouslookatthedessert，asheturnedhisshakingheadwithdifficultyfromonedishtotheother.
Simonrubbedhishands：\"Youwillbeamused，\"hesaid;andallthechildrenunderstandingthatIwasgoingtobeindulgedwiththesightoftheirgreedygrandfather，begantolaugh，whiletheirmothermerelysmiledandshruggedhershoulders，andSimon，makingaspeakingtrumpetofhishands，shoutedattheoldman：\"Thiseveningthereissweetcreamedrice！\"Thewrinkledfaceofthegrandfatherbrightened，andhetrembledmoreviolently，fromheadtofoot，showingthathehadunderstoodandwasverypleased.Thedinnerbegan.
\"Justlook！\"Simonwhispered.Theoldmandidnotlikethesoup，andrefusedtoeatit;buthewasobligedtodoitforthegoodofhishealth，andthefootmanforcedthespoonintohismouth，whiletheoldmanblewsoenergetically，soasnottoswallowthesoup，thatitwasscatteredlikeasprayalloverthetableandoverhisneighbors.Thechildrenwrithedwithlaughteratthespectacle，whiletheirfather，whowasalsoamused，said：\"Isnottheoldmancomical？\"
Duringthewholemealtheyweretakenupsolelywithhim.Hedevouredthedishesonthetablewithhiseyes，andtriedtoseizethemandpullthemovertohimwithhistremblinghands.Theyputthemalmostwithinhisreach，toseehisuselessefforts，histremblingclutchesatthem，thepiteousappealofhiswholenature，ofhiseyes，ofhismouthandofhisnoseashesmeltthem，andheslobberedonhistablenapkinwitheagerness，whileutteringinarticulategrunts.Andthewholefamilywashighlyamusedatthishorribleandgrotesquescene.