"It seems to me that she spends a good deal of time on the stairs for a girl who never goes out!" "She had forgotten to buy some coffee, monsieur; coffee is her passion, it seems; she can't do without it!" "Did she tell you that?" "Yes, monsieur; but she didn't stop; she went on downstairs. She'll probably come back very soon; if monsieur chooses, I will keep watch on the landing, and as soon as I see Mademoiselle Georgette in the hall below I will let him know." "Nonsense! Do you suppose I am going to put myself out to see this grisette? You are crazy, Lépinette!" "I would just like to have monsieur see her in her jacket and short petticoat; they're so becoming to her!" "Pardieu! there's a very simple way for me to see this girl without disturbing myself. She embroiders cigar cases, you say? I'll order one of her. Go out and watch for her, and, when she comes, ask her to step into my apartment a moment. You may tell her why." "Very good, monsieur; I will go on sentry duty, in order to give her your message." "If you don't see her pass, you may as well go up to her room; there's no need of standing on ceremony with a mere working girl." "Very well, monsieur; if she has already come in, I will go up and do your errand." Lépinette left the room, and Edward de Sommerston surrendered anew to the charms of the cigarette; but five minutes had not passed when the valet reappeared and said to him: "The young person is here, monsieur." "Whom do you mean?" "The girl from upstairs who makes cigar cases." "Oh! I had already forgotten your protégée. Well! show her in." "Here, monsieur?" "To be sure; you don't suppose I am going to put myself out to go into the salon to receive this grisette, do you?" "Then I will show her in here." The servant went out, returned in a moment, and announced: "Mademoiselle Georgette!"--And the Georgette with whom we are already acquainted, having seen her on Rue de Seine and Boulevard Beaumarchais, entered the smoking room in her morning costume; but this time there was something in the simple négligé that denoted more thought, more coquetry: the jacket was trimmed with lace, the white petticoat had an embroidered hem; and the hair was arranged according to the prevailing style; plainly, she realized that she was now in the Chaussée d'Antin. Georgette advanced three steps and retreated two, crying: "Mon Dieu! what a horrible smell!" Thereupon the viscount turned over on his couch, and said: "So you don't like the smell of tobacco, my girl?" "Hallo! there's someone here. But I can't see anything; it's like being in the clouds! Well! I won't stay here! I don't propose to have people think that I've been in barracks!" And Georgette walked quickly from the smoking room, followed a corridor, opened the first door she saw, and found herself in a charming salon, where she paused a moment. "This is better! one can at least see something here, and it isn't reeking with tobacco smoke!"