Lépinette took the handsome gifts in his arms with great care, and went to do his master's errand, while the latter sallied forth again to go to the races. On returning home at night, the viscount's first thought was to ask his servant how his presents had been received. Lépinette replied, assuming a serious expression: "Monsieur, I saw something to-day that I never saw before!" "What did you see? You remind me of a sibyl." "Well, monsieur, I saw a young girl, a mere working girl, who lives in an attic, refuse a cashmere shawl, velvets, silks--in a word, a magnificent outfit!" "What! you saw that? Do you mean to say that Georgette----" "Yes, monsieur; Mademoiselle Georgette refused your presents." "Impossible!" "It is true, monsieur." "Then you must have gone about it awkwardly." "No; monsieur is well aware that I am accustomed to such commissions. I spread the things out--the shawl on a table before that amazing creature's eyes; she let me go on at first, and watched me without saying a word; but finally she exclaimed: 'What am I to do with all this, monsieur?'--'Whatever you please, mademoiselle,' I replied; 'my master begs you to accept it all, and he presents his compliments and requests you to bring him the cigar cases to-morrow, even if they are not done!'" "That's very clever of you! Go on." "Then Mademoiselle Georgette walked to where I had put the presents, and said: 'All these things are very pretty, very elegant, but I don't want them. You may thank monsieur le vicomte for me, take all these beautiful things back to him, and tell him that I will bring what he ordered to-morrow.'--'But I can't take them back, mademoiselle,' I said; 'my master told me to leave them with you.'--'Because your master thought it would make me very happy to receive such beautiful things; but, as he has made a mistake, you must take them back.'--'Mademoiselle,' I added, with a supplicating expression, 'you may do whatever you choose with these garments and materials; but for heaven's sake keep them, or my master will scold me.'--'I am very sorry, but I will not keep them.'--And with that, the young woman, who struck me as being exceedingly obstinate, piled them all on my arms: the shawl, the fabrics, and the bonnet box, and pushed me gently toward the door, which she closed behind me. That is just what happened." "So that you brought back my presents?" "I had to do it, monsieur." "No, you weren't obliged to; you're a fool! You ought to have thrown them all on the floor and run away." "I am sure that she'd have thrown them out on the landing." "Well, suppose she had? we should have seen whether she would or not. However, she said that she would come to-morrow?" "Yes, monsieur." "Very good!"