"Oh! that is visible to the naked eye," added Dumarsey. "We have a new intrigue on hand, which is waxing warm." "Faith! messieurs, you have guessed right!" replied Edward. "Yes, I have a very violent fancy. Deuce take me! I believe I am really in love!" "Really! Is she so very pretty?" "She's better than pretty; she is piquant--enchanting!" "Did you see her at the Bouffes?" inquired the simpering Lamberlong. "At the Bouffes? Oh! she never goes there, I can promise you that!" The red-haired worthy made a wry face. "A woman who never goes to the Bouffes!" he murmured; "mon Dieu! what sort of a creature can she be?" "I say, Edward, what style of woman is your new passion?" "What style? Oh! the most modest that you can imagine; but I adapt Boileau's verse to women: "'Tous les genres sont bons, hors le genre ennuyeux.'"[I] "When will you show us your charmer?" "Oh! messieurs, I'll show her to you when I am her fortunate vanquisher." "Then it isn't a finished affair?" "No; and I shall be careful not to let you see her now; for I know you--you would try to steal her from me." "To be sure; that is done among friends." "Do you expect to sigh for long?" asked the tall Florville; "you, my dear viscount, who ordinarily put a love affair through at railroad speed?" "Ah! this time I have to do with a little minx who is not so easily brought to terms." "Well! Edward, tell us when you will show her to us, as a proof that you have triumphed? I'll give you three days; is that enough?" "Hum! I am not sure." "Come, messieurs, let's do the square thing; we'll give him a week; and if, within a week, he doesn't invite us to dinner with his new conquest, why, we will assign him a place among the gulls.--Is it a bargain, Edward?" "Yes, messieurs, within a week. I accept that proposition." "If you bring your lady, we are to pay for the dinner; if you don't, you are to treat us." "Agreed--within a week!--Oh! I hope to be on firm ground before that." This agreement was made two days after the conversation which had resulted in Georgette's refusal of the purse containing five hundred francs. When his friends had gone, the viscount said to himself: "Now I must act. The little one refused gold--but gold doesn't take the eye like fine clothes. She had a magnificent outburst of pride. But this time I'll send her some things that she won't be able to resist." The young man ordered his carriage and drove to the most fashionable shops. He bought a handsome shawl, silks and velvets for dresses, and even a pretty little bonnet which he considered well adapted to the face he desired to seduce. He returned home with his purchases, and said to Lépinette: "Take all this to the girl upstairs, Mademoiselle Georgette. Give her my compliments, and tell her I would like to have the cigar cases I ordered from her; that I shall expect her to-morrow, during the morning, even if she has only one finished."