"What, monsieur! do you distrust me to that extent?" "Hush! you bore me." "But if you want her to ask for me, monsieur, I'm willing, I don't refuse." "Leave me in peace, and go to bed!" Pomponne went to bed, weeping because I would not allow him to be there on the morrow to admit my young grisette. I fell asleep thinking of Mademoiselle Rosette. Her visit indicated a very earnest wish to make my acquaintance; or was it not due to her having read that name on the ticket? Was it not because she believed me to be a famous author that she had come to my lodgings? All women love renown; grisettes are as susceptible to it as other women. And in that case, when she learned---- "Faith!" said I to myself; "we shall see to-morrow; let's go to sleep." At noon, I was becomingly dressed; I had sent Pomponne away, with orders not to return before two o'clock, and I impatiently counted the minutes. I did not count long. The bell rang; I opened the door instantly: it was my grisette, in the same costume as on the day of our first meeting, and with a no less affable expression. She entered without ceremony. I ushered her into my little salon, and invited her to sit on the divan, saying: "How good of you to come!" "I came last evening." "I know it. But why weren't you at the theatre? I was so anxious to meet you there! In fact, it was for you that I sent the box, and not for those others." "Yes, but I couldn't go; there was work that had to be done, and at such times there's no fun to be had. You saw my employer, Madame Ratapond, and a specimen of my aunts." "Ah! so those were your aunts; the elderly ladies, I presume?" "Yes. And my mistress, what did you think of her?" "She is very good-looking. But it was you that I wanted to see! You are so pretty, and I love you so dearly!" At this point, I tried to add action to speech; but Mademoiselle Rosette pushed me away and arose, saying: "In the first place, I want you to let me alone. Stop! stop! you think you can go on like that, right away---- Oh, no! Later, I won't say! We'll see!" Good! At all events, she gave me ground for hope. I liked her frankness exceedingly. "In the second place, I must go; yes, I'm in a great hurry. I came here on my way to do an errand; but it wasn't far that I had to go, and my mistress will say: 'There's that Rosette idling again!'" "Ah! so it seems that you do that sometimes?" "Yes, sometimes; I don't deny it. I like to stroll along and look in the shop windows." "Sit down a moment." She did so, and said, after looking about the room: "Monsieur--is it really true that it's you?" "That it's I?--why---- What do you mean?"