We were just about to take our places when Madame Marotte seized the opportunity to introduce Müller and myself to M. Lenoir. "We have met before, Monsieur," said Müller, pointedly. "I am ashamed to confess, Monsieur, that I do not remember to have had that pleasure," replied M. Lenoir, somewhat stiffly. "And yet, Monsieur, it was but the other day," persisted Müller. "Monsieur, I can but reiterate my regret." "At the Café Procope." M. Lenoir stared coldly, slightly shrugged his shoulders, and said, with the air of one who repudiates a discreditable charge:-- "Monsieur, I do not frequent the Café Procope." "If Monsieur Müller is to teach us the game, Monsieur Müller must begin it!" said Monsieur Dorinet. "At once," replied Müller, taking his place in the circle. As ill-luck would have it (the rest of us being already seated), there were but two chairs left; so that M. Lenoir and Müller had to sit side by side. "I begin with my left-hand neighbor," said Müller, addressing himself with a bow to Mdlle. Rosalie; "and the circle will please to repeat after me:--'I have the four corners of my Aunt's Flower Garden for sale-- thee, and lov'd thee, and ne'er can forget._'" MDLLE. ROSALIE _to_ M. PHILOMÈNE.--I have the four corners of my Aunt's Flower Garden for sale-- thee, and lov'd thee, and ne'er can forget._' M. PHILOMÈNE _to_ MADAME DE MONTPARNASSE.--I have the four corners of my Aunt's Flower Garden, etc., etc. MADAME DE MONTPARNASSE _to_ M. DORINET.--I have the four corners of my Aunt's Flower Garden, etc., etc. Monsieur Dorinet repeats the formula to Madame Desjardins; Madame Desjardins passes it on to me; I proclaim it at the top of my voice to Madame Marotte; Madame Marotte transfers it to Mdlle. Honoria; Mdlle. Honoria delivers it to the fair Marie; the fair Marie tells it to M. Lenoir, and the first round is completed. Müller resumes the lead :-- "_In the second grow heartsease and wild eglantine; Fair exchange is no theft--for my heart, give me thine_." MDLLE. ROSALIE _to_ M. PHILOMÈNE:-- "_In the second grow heartsease and wild eglantine; Fair exchange is no theft--for my heart, give me thine_." M. PHILOMÈNE _to_ MDLLE. DE MONTPARNASSE:-- "_In the second grow heartsease_," &c., &c. And so on again, till the second round is done. Then Müller began again:-- "_In the third of these corners pale primroses grow; Now tell me thy secret, and whisper it low_." Mdlle. Rosalie was about to repeat these lines as before; but he stopped her. "No, Mademoiselle, not till you have told me the secret." "The secret, M'sieur? What secret?" "Nay, Mademoiselle, how can I tell that till you have told me? You must whisper something to me--something very secret, which you would not wish any one else to hear--before you repeat the lines. And when you repeat them, Monsieur Philomène must whisper his secret to you--and so on through the circle."