Monsieur de Mardeille breakfasted slowly; he enjoyed his coffee as, in anticipation, he enjoyed his coming triumph; at last, after glancing over several newspapers, he went to one of the windows looking on the courtyard, thinking that he had given her time enough to wish for his coming and that he would do well to show himself. On opening his window he looked at once toward his little neighbor's, and saw a young man seated beside Georgette, holding both her hands and gazing at her most affectionately. Thereupon our gallant frowned, compressed his lips, and stared in dismay. "Sapristi!" he exclaimed; "with a young man! She's with a young man, and she pretends to receive visits from no man but me! And this is her gratitude for my brooch! Ah! we'll see about this! I won't allow myself to be fooled in this way! I must find out who this young man is who holds both her hands, when I can hardly induce her to let me hold one." The man whom he had discovered in his neighbor's apartment was young Colinet, whom we already know. His dress was almost exactly the same as he had worn on the occasion of his first visit to Georgette, except that his broadcloth trousers were replaced by linen ones, and that he carried a light switch instead of his stout stick. A much greater change had taken place on his face, however; in the intervening three months, his innocent, shy air had given place to one more sedate and thoughtful; it was still frank and open, but the artless expression had disappeared. "Oh! how glad I am to see you, Mamzelle Georgette!" said Colinet, taking the girl's hands. "And I to see you, Colinet! It makes me very happy, I can tell you! And you say that everybody at home is well--my father and mother and sisters?" "Yes, mamzelle, I left them all in good health; and here's a letter that Mamzelle Suzanne, your second sister, gave me for you." "Oh! give it to me, give it to me quick, Colinet!" Georgette eagerly seized the letter that the young man had brought her; she broke the seal and read it to herself inaudibly; the expression of her face betrayed her deep interest in its contents. While Georgette was reading, Colinet looked about, apparently making an inspection of the room. "It's very nice here," he muttered; "much finer than it was in the other place." Having finished reading the letter, Georgette put it in her bosom, then smiled anew at Colinet, who said: "Will that letter bring you back to the province?" "Not yet, Colinet." "Do you still enjoy yourself more in Paris?" "It is not that, my friend; but I came here for a certain purpose; and I shall not leave Paris until I have finished what I have begun." "Ah! you're doing some work here, are you?" "Yes, my friend." "And you won't tell me what it is? Perhaps I could help you."