Page:Kéraban the Inflexible Part 1 (Jules Verne).djvu/159

Rh "What is it?"

"Did you ever hear of a wine-merchant who never tasted the wines he sold?"

"No—certainly I never did."

"Well then, wine merchant or tobacco merchant—it is the same thing."

"Be it so," replied the Dutchman.

"Your explanation seems to me conclusive."

"But," continued Kéraban, "as you appear to wish to argue—"

"I assure you I do not," replied Van Mitten, quickly.

"So?"

"No, I declare."

"At any rate you made an observation which reflected on my taste for tobacco."

"Believe me—"

"You did—I say you did," interrupted Kéraban, beginning to get excited. "I can understand insinuations—"

"There was no insinuation on my part," replied Van Mitten, who, without knowing why—perhaps it was the effect of the good dinner—began to wax impatient.

"There was," replied Kéraban, "and it is my turn to make an observation."

"Well then, make it."

"I do not understand—I cannot understand—how you can bring yourself to smoke Latakia in a narghilé! It displays a great want of taste in a smoker who has any self-respect."

"It seems to me that I have the right to do so," replied Van Mitten, "since I prefer the tobacco of Asia Minor."

"Asia Minor. Really! Asia Minor is far behind Persia when tobacco is concerned."

"That is a matter of opinion."

"Tombéki, even after being submitted to a double 'washing,' still possesses active properties infinitely superior to those of Latakia."

"I quite believe it," replied the Dutchman. "Very active properties; which are due to the presence of belladonna."

"Belladonna, in proper proportion, only increases the qualities of the tobacco."