"Bravo! It's decided: we will both go to the ball. And then, you see, we know so many people! it would be deuced strange if we didn't see some familiar face in a large party. Then we will just say in an undertone: 'You brought me here;' and our acquaintance will ask nothing better than to be our sponsor. Besides, we will dance, and dancing men are always scarce at balls; sooner or later, it will be the fashion to hire them. They'll be only too glad to have us. Come, which one do you choose; it's all one to me." "And to me, too." "Well, I'm a good fellow: the ball in front is more stylish; I'll let you have that one, and I'll take the one behind. Especially, as I feel in the mood for dancing a cancan, if it's a bit _chicardini_. Does that suit you?" "Perfectly." "We're in patent-leathers and have new gloves. It couldn't be better.--Waiter, just whisk your napkin over our boots. That's right; now we're as refulgent as suns; patent-leather boots are a blessed invention.--Forward! I may be mistaken, but I have an idea that I shall make a good thing out of this ball; and you?" "I haven't so much assurance as you. But, deuce take it! after all, we're not people without hearth or home. And, as you say, we might easily make a mistake in the party. Come on!" "That's the talk: forward, to the cannon's mouth!" We went down one flight; Balloquet humming and hopping; I, slightly flustered, but none the less determined to enjoy myself. We reached the landing between the two balls; we heard both orchestras. "Good luck!" said Balloquet; and he entered the door at the right, while I turned to the left. I entered the room where they were dancing. A quadrille was just beginning. "A fourth couple here! we want a vis-à-vis!" called a gentleman close beside me.--Then he looked at me and said: "Won't you be our vis-à-vis?" "Gladly," I replied; and glancing about, I saw a lady sitting alone on a bench. I hastened to invite her to dance. She accepted. We took our places opposite the gentleman who had no vis-à-vis; the music began and we did the same; and, lo! I was dancing already before I had had time to look about me and become acquainted with the company into which I had so audaciously thrust myself. But a man who is dancing never has a suspicious look; nobody observes him or pays any attention to him. It seemed to me that I had taken the best possible means to become acquainted with my surroundings. After the first figure, I began by examining my partner, whom I had chosen at random, so to speak.