"I'd rather have it in my bed than a clap of thunder!" the words came tumbling from Cottard, who had for some time been waiting in vain until Forcheville should pause for breath, so that he might get in his hoary old joke, a chance for which might not, he feared, come again, if the conversation should take a different turn; and he produced it now with that excessive spontaneity and confidence which may often be noticed attempting to cover up the coldness, and the slight flutter of emotion, inseparable from a prepared recitation.
-Hobe berarekin ohean ezen ez gailurrean-esan zuen harrapataka Cottardek, luzaro samarrean zain egona baitzen, alferrik, Forchevillek arnasa noiz hartuko, tarte horretaz baliatu ahal izatearren, elkarrizketak beste norabideren bat hartuz gero beharbada bertan esana izateko aproposa izango ez litzatekeen txantxa-esaera zahar hura sakatzeko; eta esan ere, azkenean halaxe esan zuen, ahapaldi bati beti datxezkion hoztasuna eta zirrara mozorrotu nahi bide zituèn berezkotasun eta segurantzia gehiegizkoez.