During the three days that elapsed before she brought him what he had ordered, the young man asked his servant several times if he had happened to meet on the stairs the young woman who lived at the top of the house; but Lépinette had not seen Georgette, which fact seemed to vex him; he flattered himself, perhaps, that he could make a conquest of the girl more easily than his master could. On the day that Georgette had appointed, Edward, attired in a coquettish morning négligé, awaited the young woman in a pretty little salon which might at need have passed for a boudoir. He was smoking cigarettes, but had ordered them made of a very mild tobacco, in which there was a touch of perfume. About noon, Lépinette announced: "Mademoiselle Georgette!" and the young woman appeared, still in her little morning costume. "I beg your pardon, monsieur," she said, as she courtesied to the viscount, "for presenting myself in this négligé; but I have none too much time to work, and I never dress when I expect to stay at home." "The hussy knows perfectly well that she is more alluring in this dress," thought Edward, "and that is why she comes in her short petticoat. If she weren't so well built, she'd be all bundled up in clothes. We know all about that. Mademoiselle Georgette desires me to admire her good points; therefore, she desires to please me." And the young man, without stirring from his couch, pointed to a chair and said: "Take a seat, I beg! You are very attractive thus. Besides, one doesn't dress to call on a neighbor. Will it annoy you if I continue to smoke?" "Oh! I didn't come here to interfere with your pleasures, monsieur." "This tobacco is very mild, and the odor is not disagreeable, even to people who don't like tobacco." "That is true; it smells like patchouli." "Have you been good enough to remember my cigar case?" "Here it is, monsieur." And Georgette handed him a lovely little affair, lined with silk. "Why, this is delicious! it's an admirable piece of work!" cried Edward. "Do you like it? So much the better!" "I should be very exacting if I did not like it. The colors of the little diamonds are blended perfectly. You have no less taste than talent. And it took you only three days to make it?" "That was quite long enough." "It should be worth fifty francs, at least." "No, that would be too much; I am content with the price I told you." "But in that case you earn less than five francs a day, for you have to buy your wool and your silk." "Oh! if I earned five francs a day, that would be too fine; I should be too rich!" "So you are not ambitious, eh? You have no desire to change your position?" "Hum! that depends. To change it for a short time would hardly be worth while. Sometimes I have had dreams: at such times, I see myself in a superb apartment; I have diamonds and handsome dresses, a carriage, and servants to wait on me; oh! it's magnificent!"