"Will you not come with us, M. le Comte, and see for yourself? Our car waits your orders. The air is of the spring, reviving with its mildness. Get in, M'sieur, get in. We will take you in a flash to the _établissement_, and you will see _la belle petite_ with the taste so superb. Afterwards we will go and visit _mon père_." The old Comte felt in a mood for adventure. These demoiselles were very charming, and he would like himself to see _la petite_ who had the taste so rare and simple. Accordingly he went as far as the house, leaning now on the arm of the Marquise Rose, but holding the hand of the Marquise Clotilde. He desired his valet to clothe him in his coat of fur and to place at his feet a hot bottle. The automobile was closed by his desire. _Les jeunes_ demoiselles nearly fainted with the heat, but their task would soon be over; their revenge would be complete and their reward would be in their hands. They chattered all the way with the gay prattle of young birds. The very old Comte thought how delightful was youth; he was glad, very glad, to meet his own relations. At last they stopped at the _établissement_. The old Comte got out, and the les Marquises accompanied him--all seemed going well, of the best. The assistants bowed; the shopwalkers were ready to take these distinguished strangers to whatever department they pleased. The Comte felt his cheeks flush with eagerness. This was really a very gay adventure. He liked gay adventures; but at that moment there was standing, just behind the Marquises and the Comte, _la petite_ Comtesse. She had gone herself to fetch a certain lace for a certain customer. One glance served to pierce the disguise of the ugly _gouvernantes_; one glance told to her horror-stricken eyes that _mon_ grandpère le Comte was in the _établissement_. Quickly, like a flash, she entered that part of the _magasin_ which was kept for underclothing, and with which she had nothing to do. From there she got into the back premises, where she beheld _la belle_ grand'mère. "Oh, hide me, hide me," cried little Margot; "I will tell thee what has occurred. Those _gouvernantes_ so ignorant are in the _établissement_ with grandpère. They are powdered and rouged and wearing our _chapeaux_--they are pretending the youth. Ah, but if he knows, if he sees, it will break his heart." "Fret not thyself, _ma petite_," said _la belle_ grand'mère. "Stay quietly with me. Thou wilt be asked for of necessity, but I will say that thou hast _mal à la tête_." "But _non_, grand'mère," cried little Margot, "behold, it is not _mal à la tête_; it is sorrow at the heart." "Well, that suffices, _mon enfant_." The Comte, his cheeks growing pinker, his eyes brighter, accompanied by those charming demoiselles, the young Marquises, asked everywhere for _la petite_, _la petite_, the lady who had the taste so ravishing; but although many were waiting for her, there was no sign of _la petite_.