The Folio Society’s “The Unwise Chatter of Three Pilgrims” seems the title that best matches this story of Balzac’s. The Bibliophilist Society gives “Odd Sayings…..”
The sayings’ oddness stems from the fact that on their way to Rome to pay in kind for their sinful lives they “let their tongues wag freely” in the hearing of a serving girl in the inn where they stopped for rest and refreshment, thus each revealing their hidden treasures about their person with which they hoped to redeem their mortal misbehaviours. In revealing the inevitable outcome the author employs a wealth of double entendres exemplified by his last sentence: “This goes to show that in public inns we should keep our tongues between our cheeks.”
Here is the illustration of Mervyn Peake for Folio;
and those of Gustave Doré, who must have been running out of inspiration, for Bibliophilist.
Further details of the publications are given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/except that there are no pictures here by Jean de Bosschère as I do not have any of the third Decade by him.
I remember finding it quite amusing. Terrific illustrations.
These Folio Society books have provided much entertainment, Derrick. Thank you for sharing them with your readers.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
Love the drawings and the witticisms you chose to share with us.
Thank you very much, Pat
The title captures me in!
His last sentence…good advice!
The Peake illustration is great!
(((HUGS))) ❤️????
Thanks very much, Carolyn 🙂
Sorry the smiley-face appeared in question marks.
Don’t worry, this occurs so often I know what it means
It does sounds like the Folio Society’s title is better.
Quite a final sentence.
I found the last sentence, shall we say, startling.
!!!
Thanks very much, Merril
You have quite the collection, Derrick. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks very much, GP
The comments you shared are very amusing.
Thank you very much, Robbie