midday
Phellion , who delighted in his neat hand-writing , and was full of compassion for the fellow , read him lectures on the duty of giving lessons in penmanship , -- an honorable career , he said , which would ameliorate existence and even render it agreeable ; he promised him a situation in a young ladies ' boarding-school . But Vimeux 's head was so full of his own idea that no human being could prevent him from having faith in his star . He continued to lay himself out , like a salmon at a fishmonger 's , in spite of his empty stomach and the fact that he had fruitlessly exhibited his enormous moustache and his fine clothes for over three years . As he owed Antoine more than thirty francs for his breakfasts , he lowered his eyes every time he passed him ; and yet he never failed at midday to ask the man to buy him a roll . After trying to get a few reasonable ideas into this foolish head , Rabourdin had finally given up the attempt as hopeless . Adolphe -LRB- his family name was Adolphe -RRB- had lately economized on dinners and lived entirely on bread and water , to buy a pair of spurs and a riding-whip . Jokes at the expense of this starving Amadis were made only in the spirit of mischievous fun which creates vaudevilles , for he was really a kind-hearted fellow and a good comrade , who harmed no one but himself .