She smiled so comically as she said this, that I saw a double row of lovely teeth. I ventured to take her hand; that was going ahead rather fast, but, for some unknown reason, although I had not been talking with her five minutes, I felt as if I knew her well. She let me hold and press her hand, which was plump and soft; it did not seem to vex her in the least. "Where shall I send the tickets?" "To my employer's." "What is your trade?" "I mend shawls and fringes. I'm a very good hand at it, I promise you!" "I don't doubt it, mademoiselle." "Just now I'm doing an errand for my employer; she always sends me on errands, I don't know why; she says that the dealers aren't so strict with me! It's a bore sometimes to go out so often; but sometimes it's good fun, too." "Will you tell me your name?" "No." "Will you come to a restaurant with me and breakfast?" "No; in the first place, I haven't got time; they're waiting for me, and I must go back. In the second place, I wouldn't go, anyway, like that, with someone I don't know." "That's the way to become acquainted." "Suppose anyone should see me go into a restaurant with you--one of my aunts, for instance! I've got seven aunts!" "Sapristi! that's worse than Abd-el-Kader! No matter! come and have breakfast with me at my rooms, and you will see at once who I am--that I am not a mere nobody, a man without means or position." "Oh! I didn't say you were, monsieur." "I live on Rue Bleue, No. 14; that isn't very far away. If you will trust me, I promise you that I won't even kiss the end of your finger." "Perhaps not, monsieur; but I tell you, I haven't got time; I must go back; I am late already, and I shall be scolded." "Very well! where shall I send you a ticket, then?" "At Madame Ratapond's, No. 48, Rue Meslay; just give it to the concierge. Mark it: _For Mademoiselle Rosette, at Madame Ratapond's_." "And you are Mademoiselle Rosette?" "Perhaps. When will you send the ticket?" "Whenever you choose." "To-morrow, then." "To-morrow, very good!" "How many seats?" "I will send you a box with four seats." "Ah! splendid! That will be fun." "But you will go?" "To be sure!" "And I may speak to you?" "_Dame!_ I don't know about that. If I am with my employer, you must be careful. But I'll go out in the entr'acte." "Then I will make an opportunity to say a few words to you. And you won't come and breakfast with me? An hour passes so quickly!" "Oh, no! no! Adieu, monsieur! You won't forget--Mademoiselle Rosette, at Madame Ratapond's, No. 48, Rue Meslay." "No, mademoiselle, there's no danger of my forgetting."