"Good; I see that everything is complete; and if, with all the rest, the cooking is good----" "Very good; and they give you fine _matelotes_, because they catch the fish on the spot." "This rustic restaurant will certainly receive a call from me very soon; indeed, I would go there to-day--delighted to take the trip with you, mesdemoiselles--if I were not expecting someone--who, I am beginning to think, will not come. It's an infernal shame! we are invited to dine at the Palais-Royal; it's almost five o'clock now, and we shall break our engagement and they'll dine without us, all on his account!" "You'll dine somewhere else; that's all. There's no lack of restaurants in Paris." "Vive Dieu! who knows that better than I! So I have no difficulty on that score--that is to say, I don't know which to select, and if you young ladies will do me the honor to accept a little dinner in the suburbs----" "Thanks, monsieur; but we don't accept dinners; besides, we are to meet someone at Parc Saint-Fargeau." "That's just the reason I venture to invite them," said Cherami to himself.--"Are you young ladies engaged in business?" he asked. "Yes, monsieur; we make feathers; we work in one of the best shops on Rue Saint-Denis; but to-day is the mistress's birthday; that's why we have the whole day to ourselves." "Enchanted to have made your acquaintance. Ah! so you're in feathers--a charming trade for a woman! They have the same volatility: birds of a feather flock together." "Is he talking nonsense to us?" whispered Mademoiselle Lucie in her friend's ear. "Why, no, stupid; not at all; that's a compliment." "Belleville! passengers for Belleville!" "Here's the Belleville 'bus, Laurette, and they're making signs that there are seats for us." "Oh! we must run, then. Bonjour! monsieur." "What! you are going so soon! I thought--I hoped----" The two girls were already in the omnibus, which soon disappeared. Cherami turned on his heel, muttering: "They were shrewd to refuse my dinner. Peste! how should I have got out of it? I'm not sorry to have had a chat with the little dears--one's name is Laurette, and the other's Lucie, or Lucile; they may be desirable acquaintances, on occasion; if I ever want to buy feathers, for instance." IX ANOTHER WEDDING PARTY