"How in der teufel are you?" said the baron, taking my hand. "Ah! is it you, Monsieur de Brunzbrack? I am delighted to meet you. Do you know that it is more than six months since we met?" "Ja, I know id veil; but I could not meed you no more, pecause--you know pecause vhy?" "What do I know? Assume that I do not know--I shall be much obliged." "Pecause I no longer go to Monsir Sordeville." "Ah! you no longer go there? Faith! I had no means of knowing that, for the very simple reason that I myself have not put my foot inside that door since--yes, since the night we played baccarat together, against Madame Dauberny." "Ten you pe like me. Te loafely voman, she vill haf varned us poth." "Warned---- Who, pray?" "Te loafely Frédérique." "Ah! so Madame Dauberny suggested to you too not to go to Madame Sordeville's, did she?" "Ja! I haf one day received from her ein leedle note, vich I haf alvays keep, pecause I vas much bleezed to receive tat note vich she haf write herself. You shall see; I haf id alvays on my heart, in my cigar case." And the baron, taking a dainty cigar case from his pocket, produced a small folded paper that smelt horribly of tobacco; luckily, the tobacco was of the best quality. He opened the letter and handed it to me, but did not let it leave his own hands. I recognized Frédérique's hand, and I read: "MY DEAR BARON: "Do you care for my advice? Do not go to Monsieur Sordeville's any more. I say this in your own interest. Later, perhaps, I shall be able to explain my reasons. /* "Yours devotedly, "FRÉDÉRIQUE DAUBERNY." I could not restrain a sort of shudder as I read the last name, and reflected that such a woman as Frédérique was that man's wife. Suppose that she knew what he was doing! But, no; she would do something imprudent; it was better that she should not know that story until Annette was avenged. The baron carefully replaced the letter in his cigar case, and restored the latter to his pocket, saying: "Vhen I haf tat note received, I vas mad mit choy. I pelieved tat te Frédérique, she vas chealous of some voman who vent to Monsir Sordeville, berhaps of Montame Sordeville herself. Ha! ha! ha!" "Did you follow the advice she gave you?" "Ach! _pigre!_ I vould haf no more gone to Sordeville's for ein embire! But I haf called often to see Montame Dauberny; I haf hard luck; she pe nefer in! I haf not pin aple to meed her. And you, mein gut frent?" "I received the same advice from Madame Dauberny." "And you opeyed, like me?" "Not instantly; I went once more to see Madame Sordeville, but in the afternoon." "Ach! gut! gut!" "Indeed, I expected to see her often; but an unforeseen event changed all my plans. I have not been there since, and I shall never go again." "Ach! gut! gut! Is id also to do Montame Dauberny's vish?" "Not at all; it is for another reason, which I cannot tell you."