"Oh! that's the way it is with me now; there's no danger of my stumbling. Why, when I see a drunken man, it makes me blush for shame, and I say to myself: 'How could I ever take any pleasure in making a beast of myself like that!'" "And your reading?" "That gives me a great deal of entertainment, too. But there are some things I have to read over two or three times, because I don't understand them right away." "Would you like me to give you some more books?" "Thanks, not to-day. I am doing an errand for my employer, and I had to pass your door; that's why I took the liberty of coming up." "You did well, for it's a pleasure to me to see you now." Ballangier smiled, then glanced furtively at Mignonne. We talked for some time; then he rose, saying that he must hurry, because his employer was waiting for him. I walked into the reception room with him, and there, after bidding me adieu, Ballangier murmured: "She's mighty pretty, that little woman sewing in there!" "Yes, she is pretty; and, what's better still, she's respectable." "Ah, yes! Is she a lady?" "I'll tell you another time who she is." When Ballangier had gone, I returned to Mignonne, who went on with her work and said nothing. Still, I would have bet that she was surprised to hear me, a young man of fashion, addressed thus familiarly by a man in cap and blouse. Pomponne handed me a huge envelope which the concierge had just brought upstairs. The enclosure was printed; evidently a wedding invitation. I read: "Mesdames Falourdin, Riflot, Piquette, Dumarteau, Lumignon, Chamouillet, and Cavalos have the honor to announce the marriage of their niece, Mademoiselle Rosette Gribiche, to Monsieur Jules-César-Octave Freluchon, dealer in sponges." Ah! it was very amiable on Rosette's part to send me an announcement of her wedding. But something was written at the foot of the sheet: "You are requested to attend the ball, which will take place at Chapart's, Rue d'Angoulême; I rely on you for the polka." Ah! there I recognized my saucy grisette. She was quite capable of insisting on dancing all night with me; and I was not at all certain that she would not demand something else. But I would not accept her invitation, I would not go to her wedding feast. I would be more sensible than she was. I would not swear that, later on, I might not do myself the pleasure of buying a sponge of her. Meanwhile, I wished Monsieur Freluchon all happiness, and I was convinced beforehand that it would be his. One evening, when I went home, Pomponne said to me, rubbing his hands gleefully: "Monsieur had another visitor to-day. Mon Dieu! monsieur had only just gone out, when Madame Dauberny came." "Madame Dauberny? Oh! how sorry I am that I didn't see her!" "She came in; in fact, she waited for monsieur quite a long time, talking with your seamstress." "What do you mean by my seamstress? In heaven's name, can't you say Madame Landernoy?"