“It was because I was bored to death in Paris; and then I--I did not know this neighborhood----” “Well, I know it; but I am very fond of it. Dugazon had a country house at Saint-Mandé! I will show it to you when we return. We used to come here to have little supper parties and theatricals, and to enjoy ourselves. I played _L’Avocat Patelin_, and Petit-Jean in _Les Plaideurs_; and by the way, in _Les Plaideurs_, I played a wicked trick! You know, when----” “But we are detaining monsieur, uncle; we are taking his time, perhaps!” “Oh! by no means, mademoiselle; I was just going back to Saint-Mandé.” “We are going back there too; we will go together. As I was saying, it was in _Les Plaideurs_. In the third act, you know, some little dogs are brought on. Dugazon had said to me: ‘Will you undertake to provide some little dogs?’ I already had my plan in my head, so I said: ‘Yes, I will.’ Very good. The performance began and the moment came when the unfortunate orphans are called for. I brought on a large open basket. Guess what came out of it: a dozen mice, which I had concealed inside and which instantly ran about all over the stage, and jumped down into the orchestra; and the men laughed and the women shrieked, for everyone of them thought that she had a mouse under her skirt! I held my sides with laughter! After the play, those ladies said that I was a monster! That affair was worth three conquests to me!” Monsieur Roquencourt chattered on, and in due time we reached the village. Caroline had held Eugène’s hand all the way, and had talked frequently with my daughter. “Here is our hermitage,” said Monsieur Roquencourt, stopping in front of a pretty house within two gun shots of Ernest’s. “I trust that you will come to see us, Monsieur Dalbreuse. In the country one must be neighborly,--isn’t that so, niece?” “If monsieur chooses to give us that pleasure, if he would bring his children to see us, I should be delighted to see them again.--Would you like to come, my dear love?” “Yes, madame.” “And you, my little man? you must like sweeties and I always have some.” Eugène replied with great solemnity that he would like to come to see the sweeties. I thanked her for the children and took my leave, promising to bring them the next day.