On the way we said little; the baron was still dazed by the gaucheries he had committed and his joy at being invited to sup with the fair Frédérique; and, besides, I fancy that my presence embarrassed him; he did not know upon what footing I stood with the lady, but he saw that I too was to sup with her, and I think that that fact kept his mind busy. Our singular hostess also seemed to be in a contemplative mood, and I was thinking of the glance Madame Sordeville bestowed upon me when I left her salon. But Madame Dauberny resumed her playful mood as soon as we reached her house, and devoted herself to the duties of a hostess. I was very certain that we should not meet her husband; I had a secret conviction that he never attended her little supper parties. "Three covers," said Frédérique to a servant who was in the reception room. "And a good fire, for there's no satisfaction in eating when one is cold. Is there a fire in the salon?" "No, madame; but there is one in your room." "Very well! let us go to my room, then, messieurs; you will allow me to receive you in my bedroom, will you not? At one o'clock in the morning, we may snap our fingers at etiquette." "Ah, madame!" I said, bowing low; "it is a great favor, for which we thank you." "Ah, montame!" said the baron, in his turn, with a still lower bow; "id vould pe fery bretty in any room mit you." Without listening to our thanks, Madame Dauberny had already left the room before us. A lady's-maid carried a light. We arrived in the bed chamber of the lady whom Monsieur Archibald called a _gaillarde_. It was a delicious spot, furniture and draperies being in the most perfect taste; an alabaster globe hanging from the ceiling cast a soft light upon everything. Quantities of flowers, in lovely Chinese vases, filled the air with an intoxicating perfume. It was the retreat of a _petite-maîtresse_; there was nothing there to suggest a _gaillarde_. I expected to find foils, pipes, and statuettes; I found nothing but flowers, and inhaled nothing but perfumes. We were hardly ushered into her room when the charming Frédérique left us, saying: "Messieurs, I crave your permission to go and make myself comfortable."