Saturday was the fashionable night at the _Cirque Parisien_, and the night when Jules usually attended it. This was Tuesday, however, and Jules decided not to be fashionable, but simply to amuse himself. As he approached the letters of light that flashed the name of the _Cirque_ into the eyes of the _boulevardiers_, he suddenly remembered that he had promised to meet two of his comrades of the wool-house in the evening. He turned into the _rue Taitbout_, and as he was walking slowly through the long passageway leading into one of the large apartment-houses there, he felt himself suddenly seized in the darkness by two pairs of hands. He looked quickly around, and dimly recognized Dufresne and Leroux, who had come up from behind him. They were both types, short and swarthy, with oily faces, thick black moustaches, and pointed beards. "Why didn't you come before?" and "We've been waiting an hour," they cried together. "He's been up to some adventure, I'll wager," said Leroux. "Answer! The truth! No lies!" Dufresne exclaimed, shaking him by one shoulder. Jules pulled away with an effort. "I thought you were going to rob me!" he laughed. "You see, he doesn't answer," said Dufresne. "I told you he was up to some adventure." "Up to some adventure!" Jules repeated. "I've just been taking dinner, and I forgot I'd promised to meet you to-night. Where are you going?" "We're going to the _Folies Bergères_, and then to a masked ball in Montmartre," Leroux answered, resuming his grip. "Come along." Jules pulled away with a laugh. "Thanks. Not to-night. I don't feel like it. Besides, I'm not dressed." "But _we're_ not dressed," they cried together, throwing open their coats. "You won't have to dress. Come on." Jules shook his head decidedly. "No," he insisted, "it's all very well for you young bucks. I'm too old. It tires me out for the next day; can't do my work. I think I'll look in at the Circus. Come along with me." They scoffed at the idea of going to the Circus, and tried to persuade him to accompany them, since he had kept them waiting so long. But he resisted, and, as he turned away from them, they clutched at him again, but he escaped, laughing, into the street, and he saw them shaking their fists after him. Those two "boys," as he called them, were always trying to drag him into their escapades. They looked so much alike that at the office they were called "the twins," and they were always getting into scrapes and into debt together.