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seemed to sink in it, as into a mass of butter.
"'Ah!' said the cantinière; 'this is the little game you like, is it?'
"And she answered the blow by a smarter one on her friend's backside.
"Thereupon the consumptive girl began to run round the room, and the cantinière toddled after her in the most provoking attitude, each trying to slap the other.
"As the old prostitute passed Biou, he gave her a loud smack with his open palm, and soon after, most of the other students followed suit, evidently much excited by this little game of flagellation, until the buttocks of the two women were of a crimson red.
"The cantinière having at last managed to seize her friend, she sat down, and laid her across her knees, saying, 'Now, my friend, you will get it to your heart's content.'
"And suiting the action to the words, she belaboured her soundly; that is, striking her as strongly as her chubby little hands allowed her.
"The young woman having at last succeeded in getting up, both the women thereupon began to
