"Parbleu! did you suppose that I hadn't discovered it?" "I'll tell you what has happened to me.--Sapristi! where in the deuce is it? I can't find it, and I must have it." "What are you looking for under your bedclothes?" "A friend, a trusty companion, who is of great assistance to me." "A dog taught to fetch and carry, eh?" "No, no, it isn't a dog. Ah! here it is!" And Balloquet produced a little squirrel which he had just captured at the foot of his bed, and which he proceeded to fasten to the back of a chair by a small chain. "What do you do with that beast?" "He's a gift from the sentimental Satiné; and he would have gone the way of everything else, but for the fact that he has often helped me out of a scrape." "That squirrel?" "Yes, my dear fellow. Perhaps you will have ocular proof of it before long. But let me tell you the story of my misfortunes. I am sorry that you won't get into bed; I'm afraid that you are cold." "No. Haven't you even a match here?" "Faith! it's doubtful. Ah, yes! I see three in the corner. Why? have you got some firewood in your pocket?" "No; but I have some cigars, and I propose to smoke one." "An excellent idea! smoking keeps you warm. Have you a cigar for friendship?" "Always." "I recognize you there!" "Could Achilles have smoked without Patroclus?" Balloquet gave me a single match, begging me to be careful of it. I lighted a cigar, and from it he lighted the one that I gave him. Then he covered himself with the bedclothes, I wrapped myself hermetically in my cloak, and he began: "The last time I saw you was at the dinner Dupréval gave us, where Fouvenard told us such a villainous story." "By the way, you were rather intimate with Fouvenard, I think; what is he doing now?" "I don't know. I never see him. I am very far from being a saint, but his adventure with that poor girl from Sceaux made me detest him." "Give me your hand, Balloquet; I am glad that you think as I do on that subject. I should have had a very poor opinion of you, if you had continued to be that man's friend. Take another cigar, and go on; I am listening." "You remember those two famous wedding parties, don't you? I attended Mademoiselle Pétronille Bocal's, where, after some rather lively scrimmages, I became the jewel, the Benjamin of the family, thanks to your arrival with Papa Bocal's landlord. You saw how refreshments were served at that function: punch, mulled wine, and _bischoff_ circulating all the time. The women were of all the colors of the rainbow, and so lively and free and easy! the number of glances that were flashed at me was fabulous! but I had cast my spell on a buxom, high-colored brunette, with red roses in her hair." "I remember your charmer; I saw you talking with her."