Chapter 4 Chapter Four

"My dear captain, there are so many empty plates on your table!" cried Clovis Dadant.At this moment the head waiter was monitoring the delivery of the various dishes to the table, and he did not change his usual refined demeanor. "Perhaps he worried that if the weather at sea was worse, there would be fewer empty plates on the table." Marcel Ronan's words attracted others' attention. "Bad weather? . . . but the sea is smooth now. The Ajielai has had the worst storms ever! . . . " "And it happened at lunch and dinner," said Jean Tagonne in the most serious tone.

"Actually, I have already noticed whether those damn ocean-going companies want to get any benefits from it." Da Tang said casually. "Do you think so?" said Dr. Bruno aloud. "I only believe in one thing," said Clovis Darantot, "and that is that I never stop holding my fork, even when I'm alone at the table." "You will certainly do it!" continued Jean Tagonne. "You have already said it, Mr. Tagona." Our Perpignan man has started calling him by his last name, as if they've known each other for 48 hours. "But perhaps a few guests will return to the table," continued Marcel Ronan, "because the ship is not rocking very much."

"I'll tell you again," said Captain Bukarash, "it's only temporary, and it's all due to the negligence of the helmsman... Captain, please take a look at our guests..." "Among the other guests. Akatok, and that poor man of your father." Dadento warned again. Young Deslander just nodded, knowing full well that his father would never return to the restaurant.He sat there motionless. The foreman walked out the door without any hope.He knew full well that it was useless.When a traveler leaves the table, when circumstances change, very few return guests.There was no food on the empty plate, and the respected captain and doctor also showed a very regretful look.

A slight rip-off changed the direction of the ship so that the big wave could not rush directly towards the bow.The 10 guests who remained in their seats found peace. It seemed that there should not be too many guests at the table, which was what Clovis Dardento wanted.The dinner resumed, and the cordial atmosphere formed again, and the conversation among the guests gradually heated up. Here's what happened.The protagonist of this story controls the atmosphere of the conversation in a very wonderful way.Dr. Bruno, who had been a good talker, was also struggling now, finding it increasingly difficult to catch up with him.Zhi Tagona doesn't talk much, and God knows whether he likes to listen to such long nonsense.Marcel Ronan just smiled back, and Akatok just buried his head in his mouth and didn't hear a word.Monsieur Eustache Oleandal tasted the delicious bread; he dipped it in the Bougogne wine brought up by the head waiter in a container of balance, and the other guests did not pay attention.

Clovis d'Atent speaks of the superiority of the south of France over the north, the undisputed achievements of the city of Perpignan, and one of the city's most eminent figures, Clovis d'Atent himself The status he possessed, the respect earned by the decently acquired wealth, the various trips he carefully planned and experienced, the purpose of this trip to Oran that the Deslanders family kept mentioning to him, traveling around this Plans for the beautiful province of Algeria...finally this trip where he didn't care when he could return. It would be a mistake to think that the tirade that spewed from Clovis Darden's mouth would prevent him from getting his plate to his mouth.On the contrary, whether you eat it or say it, you can do whatever you want.Don't forget to drink up the wine in your arms during this amazing simultaneous eating and talking.

"What a marvelous human machine!" thought Jean Tagonne. "How marvelously it works! The Dudden is one of the best typical southerners I've ever seen!" Dr. Bruno did not appreciate Dardento very much.But what a subject of human anatomy it is.How many secrets will be found in the body of this man.But it would be inappropriate to suggest that the man's stomach be dissected.So the doctor simply asked Mr. Dardento if he was always concerned about his health. "What health? . . . dear doctor . . . tell me what you mean?" "Everyone will understand what I mean," replied the doctor. "Just follow the doctor's advice and use simple methods to exercise all parts of the body for a long time..."

"On the advice of your doctor," said Marcel Ronan, "we wonder if this kind of exercise is easy for you?" "Is it regular?" Jean Tagonne went on. "Regularly, I've never been sick!" said the Perpignan native, patting himself on the body. "As for whether it is simple or not, I have never seen it." "Then dear passenger," asked Captain Bukarash, "do you understand now what we mean by the word 'health'? Is it the word for the toast?" "If it's the word for a toast, I think I'll understand. By the way, I'm going to drink this glass of champagne in one gulp, without waiting for dessert!"

It's very common in the South of France to say "a dry mouthful," but Clovis Darantot said it with a nice thicker southern accent. After the meal, the wine was served, and everyone's glasses were filled with wine, and a layer of white foam appeared on the rim of the glasses.Tan Xing did not drown in drinking, but continued. Dr. Bruno picked up the conversation again: "Mr. Dardento, would you please answer this question: Do you not do anything excessive in order to maintain your health?" "What do you mean by 'excessive'?" "Ha, ha, don't Eastern Pyrenees understand the word excessive and the word healthy?" Marcel Ronan asked with a smile.

"Don't understand? ... No, Monsieur Ronan. I don't know exactly what the word means?" "Mr. Dardento," Dr. Bruno continued, "the so-called excess is to consume oneself too much, to be unrestrained, indulgent, and to consume a person's physical strength and energy with unrestrained appetite, especially at the dinner table. It is regrettable. Your excitement will soon wreck your stomach." "What is the stomach you speak of?" asked Clovis Dardento, more earnestly. "What is it?" exclaimed Dr. Bruno. "It is, so to speak, a machine, a machine for stomachaches, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastroenteritis!"

Dr. Bruno seemed delighted that the stomach could produce so many special diseases as he uttered a series of words beginning with the stomach. All in all Clovis Dardento insists that the term damage to human health is a foreign term.Because he refused to admit that the names of these diseases contained a certain meaning, Jean Tagona was very excited and said a sentence that can reflect people's eating and drinking: "It seems that you have not been to the wedding?" "No, because I've never been married!" The sonorous voice of this queer man set off a clash of utensils on the table, and a series of crashes like a crashing wave.

It is now clear that one cannot know whether this incredible Dardento was of the temperate type, whether habitual temperance gave him a very healthy body, or whether his body was of steel, No bad habit can damage his body. "Well, well!" admitted Captain Bucarash, "I think you're going to be a centenarian, Mr. Dardento." "Why not? My dear captain." "Yeah, why is it impossible?" Marcel Ronan muttered. "When a machine is made strong," continued Clovis Dadant, "well-balanced, smooth, and perfect, there is no reason why it should not last forever!" "In fact, when the fuel is not exhausted..." concluded Jean Pegona. "But there is no lack of fuel," cried Dardento, and the pocket on his waist moved with a metallic sound. "My dear gentlemen," he laughed again, "is your problem over?" "No!" retorted Dr. Bruno. He was obstinately trying to corner the Perpignan man so that he had nowhere to go. "Wrong, sir, you are wrong!" cried the doctor. "Even the best machines will break down, and even the best equipment will break down someday!" "It's up to the maintenance man to fix it!" said Clovis Darantot, pouring the wine up to the rim of the glass. "But in the end, you must die, won't you?" cried the doctor. "Since I've never seen a doctor, why do you think I'm going to die?—Health, gentlemen!" In a burst of laughter, he raised his glass, clinked it with every guest at the table, and drank it down.The noisy, cheerful, deafening conversation continued until dessert.Various dessert snacks replace the dishes just now. Let people comment on the effect of the noise of conversation on the passengers lying in distress in their cabins.The happier the neighboring conversations, the worse the vomit of the unfortunate travelers. Several times Mr. Deslander came to the door of the restaurant.Since the dinner for him and his wife was already included in the ticket, it would be sad not to eat it!But every time he just opened the door, he felt his stomach tumbling, and he couldn't wait to go back to the deck. His only consolation is: "Wish our son could eat dinner for three!" In fact, his son is meticulously doing his best to get back the money his father paid. When Clovis Dardento had finished answering the last question, the group moved on to another topic.Can one find the Achilles' heel in this man who can eat, drink, and have a strong body?His physique is strong, indestructible, and the best in every part, and if so, there's no disputing it.But in the end he too will die like everyone else—we say this so that people don't lose their nerve.When the bell of the end of life rings, who will own his huge wealth?Who will take possession of the chattels and immovables of the old Perpignan cooper?He has no direct or indirect heir, nor does he have a collateral relative who is entitled to succession... People pointed this out to him.Marcel Ronan says: "Why don't you plan to create some heirs for you?" "How to do it?" "That's it!" exclaimed Jean Tagonne, "to be the husband of a woman who is young, beautiful, noble, and elegant, just like you." "Let me marry?" "Of course!" "I haven't thought about it." "You should have thought of that, Mr. Dadante," cried Captain Bukarash. "Are you married, dear captain?" "No." "What about you, doctor?" "there has never been." "What about you, gentlemen?" "Neither married," replied Marcel Ronan, "at our age, not surprising at all!" "Then, since none of you are married, why do you want me to?" "To have a family," Jean Tagona explained. "With a family, troubles follow!" "In order to have children, to have future generations..." "I will endure their torture in the future!" "In short, there will be descendants to see you off..." "It's better to say that I'm elated over your death!" "Don't you think the state is not happy to accept your property?" "The country... will swallow my inheritance!" "It is not an answer, Monsieur Dardento," said Marcel Ronan, "it is a matter of creating a family in one's life, and keeping his property in the hands of his posterity." "True. But one can do it without being married." "What do you mean?" asked the doctor. "What I mean should be understood, gentlemen. For my part, I prefer the unexpected." "Adopt a child, right?" Jean Tagona responded immediately. "Indeed, isn't this a thousand times better idea? Isn't it the wisest choice? People have the power to choose! When children have gone through whooping cough, scarlet fever, measles, people can choose those who are healthy in body and mind Whether the child is yellow-haired or black-haired, whether he is stupid or smart in the future, he can get the inheritance. According to people's wishes, the inheritance can also be given to a boy or a girl. According to the amount of property of the kidnapped heir , can adopt one, two, three, four, or even twelve children. In short, people can create a family composed of heirs who are superior in body and character, without God's gift. According to people's wishes and time Satisfy yourself!" "Excellent! Monsieur Dardento, extremely excellent!" exclaimed Jean Tagona. "To the health of your heir!" The wine glasses clinked again. If the guests of the restaurant of the "Agerie" had not heard the last words of the eloquent Perpignan, they might not have understood his thought, a very good one. "Even if your method is very good," Captain Bukarash thought it appropriate to add, "but if everyone lives like this, if there are only fathers in the world who want to adopt children, please think about it, how soon the world will need adoptions." His children are gone." "Not at all, Monsieur Captain!" replied Dardent. "There will definitely be brave people who will marry, there will be hundreds of them." "Fortunately, the end of the world will not come soon," said Dr. Bruno. The conversation became more and more lively, except for Mr. Euspesh Oriandal and Akatok Deslander, who had been silent.The former is tasting coffee at one end of the table, while the latter is already scanning the dessert on the CD. At this time Marcel Ronan remembered a regulation in Chapter VIII of the Civil Code and asked a question about rights: "Mr. Dardento, if a man is to adopt a child, he must meet certain conditions." "I'm not ignorant, Mr. Ronan. I mean, I already have a few qualifications." "First of all you are a Frenchman, male or female." "Male, more precisely, if you will believe me, gentlemen." "We all trust you and have no objection to that," said Jean Tagonne affirmatively. Marcel Ronan added: "Furthermore, the law requires that adopters have neither children nor legal offspring." "That is exactly my case, Monsieur Jurist," replied Clovis Darantot. "Let me add that I have no offspring." "Offspring are not forbidden." "I really haven't." "But there are several conditions that you do not have, Mr. Dardento." "What conditions?" "The age is 50! A person has to be 50 years old to be legally allowed to adopt a child." "If God allows, I'll be 50 in 5 years, why doesn't God let me be 50 now?" "Because God thinks it's not a better time," said Jean Pegona. "I think so too, Mr. Tagona. In the words of a businessman, I am willing to wait until I am 50 for a good opportunity." "But the condition is that the person you want to adopt, whether male or female, must be under 35 years old," says Marcel Ronan, "because the law requires the adopter to be at least 15 years older than the adopted person." "Do you believe that I intend to adopt an old son or an old girl?" exclaimed Mr. Dardento. "Absolutely not! I would choose neither thirty-five nor thirty, but the age of majority, because The law states that adoptees should be adults." "That's all right, Monsieur Dardento," said Marcel Ronan, "you meet the qualifications, no doubt... but I'm very worried about your plans to become a foster father—that's your only deficiency." place, I bet on that." "Not because I don't have a good reputation yet! One might doubt the sincerity of a Perpignan from the Eastern Pyrenees, Clovis Darantot, in his public life or his personal life?" "Nobody suspects..." Captain Bukalash said aloud. "No one doubts it," Dr. Bruno added. "No, no one doubts it," said Jean Tagonne solemnly. "There is absolutely no doubt," Marcel Ronan cried desperately, "that's not what I'm talking about." "What is that for?" asked Clovis Dadantot. "A condition imposed by law, a condition which you must have neglected." "Please tell me what the conditions are?" "That is, within 6 years, the adopter must provide uninterrupted care for the minor adoptee." "Is that what the law says?" "Indeed." "Which brute put that into law?" "It doesn't matter if it's a beast or not!" "So, Mr. Dardento," asked Dr. Bruno after a moment's pause, "have you ever looked after a minor you know?" "I don't know any of them yet." "Then you'll just have to use your wealth to start a charity in your name!" "Is it permitted by the law?" asked the Perpignan. "The law allows." Marcel Ronan replied affirmatively. Clovis Dardento made no secret of his disappointment at the demands of the civil law.He can easily meet the needs and education of a minor for 6 years without consideration in this regard.What really needs to be considered is how to make the right choice for those minors whose future is uncertain! ... In short, he didn't think about it at all! ... Is it really an essential requirement?Did Marcel Ronan get it right? "Are you sure that there is such a provision in the Civil Code?" asked M. Dardent a second time. "I'm sure," replied Marcel Ronan. "See section 345 of the adoption section of the Civil Code. That's the main condition, unless..." "Unless what?" repeated Clovis Dardento. Then his face returned to calm. "Say it, say it!" he demanded loudly, "you're whetting my appetite, unless something..." "Unless, by law, the adoptee saves the adopter's life, either from a battle, or from a fire, or from a flood . . . " "But I have never fallen into the water, and it will never happen in the future!" "You are just as likely to encounter it as anyone else!" said Jean Tagonne. "I don't want my house to catch fire..." "Other people's homes will catch fire, and so will yours. Even if your home doesn't catch fire, the theater will catch fire and you happen to be in it; the same goes for this ocean liner, if it catches fire..." "Well, gentlemen! Even if there is a fire or a flood, as for the war, I don't know if I need someone's help! I have strong arms and strong legs, and I don't need anyone's help and rescue!" "Who can know?" replied Jean Tagonne. Regardless of whether it can be realized, Marcel Ronan only mentioned legal provisions in this talk, such as some provisions in Chapter 8 of the Civil Code.As for other regulations, even if he didn't talk about it, it was useless.Marcel Ronan said nothing at all about responsibility, such as the consent of the adopter's spouse to adopt once married - fortunately Clovis Darantot was a celibate - nor at all Issues of commitment, such as whether parental consent should be obtained for adoptees who have not reached the age of majority of 25 years. Furthermore, it seems difficult for Clovis Dardento to realize his dream and start a family of adopted children.No doubt he was still able to pick a minor, give him six years of continuous care, careful training, and give his name all the legal inheritance rights.However, the chances are slim!However, if he decides not to do so, then he has to fulfill the 3 provisions of the Civil Code.Someone had to rescue him from the battlefield, from the flood, or from the fire.The question is whether one of the above three situations will occur?Had the rescued been a man like Clovis Dardento, should it have happened?He didn't believe it, and no one else would. The guests at the table experienced several more rounds of verbal battles while drinking champagne.Our Perpignan man is always the first to laugh at an interesting conversation.If he did not want his estate to be left without heirs, or if he refused to designate a state for succession, he had no choice but to follow Jean Tagonne's advice and dedicate all he had to some charity.Besides that, he is also free to leave his estate to the first lucky person.But none of this! ... He sticks to his ideals! ... In any case, this memorable dinner was over, and all the guests returned to the quarter deck. It was nearly 7 o'clock at this time, which has exceeded the time limit for dinner.A good dinner leads to a good night.Night has fallen.People breathe the cool air and let the breeze blow on their cheeks.The land is submerged in the sunset, like a mottled oil painting, displayed in the western sky. Clovis Dardento and his companions walked up and down the deck talking, puffing on their cigars.This is the generosity of the Perpignan man to offer the best of the best cheru to everyone. At about 9:30, we broke up and made an appointment to meet again tomorrow. Clovis Dardento helped Mr. Deslanders back to Mrs. Deslanders' cabin, and then made his way to his own.No noise or movement on deck in his cabin disturbed his sensibility. At this moment Jean Tagona said to his cousin: "I have an idea." "What idea?" "If only we could be adopted by this good man!" "us?" "You and me...or you or me!" "You're crazy, Jean!" "Tonight I thought of an idea, an idea that I think is very beneficial, and I will tell you tomorrow!"