"Yes; but don't be alarmed, Colinet; he's no more dangerous to me than Monsieur Dupont was." "I believe you, as you say so. But what made you ask him to breakfast with us to-morrow? I should have liked it better to be with you alone." "And so should I, my friend; but I did what I thought it best to do, for I don't want to break with my neighbor yet, and that is what would have happened if I hadn't invited him. I am going to answer my sister Suzanne's letter now, and then write to Aimée. I'll give you the letters to-morrow." "Then, I'll go out and do some errands; for you know how it is in the country: when anyone comes to Paris, people try to see who can give him the most errands to do. I promised to dine with some friends; so I shan't see you again till to-morrow." "Come early, then, so that we can have time to talk a little before breakfast." "Yes, Mamzelle Georgette. Oh! what a pity that we two aren't going to breakfast all alone together!" "A time will come, Colinet, when we two shall often be alone; but perhaps you won't be so anxious for it then." "Ah! Georgette! you don't think that!" The girl's only reply was to hold out her hand to her old playfellow. He squeezed it, then covered it with kisses; and Georgette was obliged to remind him of all his commissions before he could make up his mind to leave her. XV A DAINTY BREAKFAST At nine o'clock the following morning, Frontin carried to Georgette's apartment a _terrine_ de foie gras, a small Reims ham, cakes, some superb fruit, bordeaux, madeira, and champagne. The valet, remembering the tone in which the shirtmaker had spoken to him, was as polite to her now as he had formerly been impertinent. Georgette received all these supplies with no indication of surprise, whereas Colinet, who had already arrived at his compatriot's rooms, opened his eyes in amazement and exclaimed: "What! are we going to eat all that? Why, what a feast, Mamzelle Georgette! what a feast! That gentleman must be head over heels in love with you to send you so many good things!" "Do you think that that proves his love, Colinet?" "Well! it must prove something, anyway!" "Yes, it proves that he would like to seduce me; for there are women who allow themselves to be seduced through their appetite." "Oh, yes! there are lots of 'em. Why, at home, there's Manette, who went into the woods with Blaise for a plum tart! But you ain't one of that kind, Georgette!" "Not I! I will eat all these things, and my neighbor won't be any further ahead. You won't forget to give my sisters the letters I gave you, will you, Colinet?" "I should think not! Do I ever forget anything you tell me? Especially as Suzanne and Aimée are always terribly impatient to get your letters." "I can believe it. Poor sisters!" "Have you told them that you're coming home soon?" "Not yet, my friend, not yet." "Are you going to stay in Paris much longer?" "Mon Dieu! I haven't any idea."