"You want to speak to that young lady again; that seems to me rather difficult, for the whole party has gone in--unless--after all, why not? This is a restaurant, and although there are several wedding parties here, that doesn't prevent the restaurateur from entertaining all the other people who come here to dinner. Come, let's dine here; what do you think?" "Oh! yes, yes! let us go in here and dine. We will ask for a private room near the wedding party, and during the ball--or before--I can see her again. I can speak to Adolphine." "Pardieu! once there, we are in our castle; we will set up our batteries, and no one has the right to send us away; we can sup there, and breakfast to-morrow morning; so long as we eat, they will be delighted to have us stay." "Ah! monsieur, how kind you are to take an interest in my troubles, to lend me your support, although you do not know me, do not know even who I am!" "Oh! I am a physiognomist, my dear friend. At the very outset, you aroused my interest; besides, I love to oblige; I do nothing else! Let's go and dine." "We will ask where the Monleard party is, monsieur; we will take a room on the same floor." "Agreed! Let's go and dine." "Without any apparent motive, I will question the waiter. Indeed, I can speedily enlist him in my interest with a five-franc piece." "He will be entirely devoted to you. Let's go and dine." "I will tell him to place us as near as possible to the room where the ladies are talking." "But, sacrebleu! if we delay much longer, there'll be no vacant room near your wedding party." "You are right! Come, come!" "At last!" said Cherami to himself, striding behind young Gustave; "this time, I have my cue!" XI A CALCULATING YOUNG WOMAN The five francs given by young Gustave to a waiter instantly produced a most satisfactory result. He placed the new-comers in a private room on the first floor, at the end of a corridor; and the large hall in which Monsieur Monleard's wedding feast was to be given was at the other end of the same corridor. Gustave would have preferred to be nearer the scene of festivity, but that was impossible; and his companion persuaded him that they were much better off at the end of the corridor, where Mademoiselle Adolphine could, if she chose, come to exchange a few words with him, unobserved by the wedding guests. "And now, let us dine!" cried Cherami, hanging his hat on a hook; "I will admit that I am hungry. All these events--your distress--your despair--have moved me deeply, and emotion makes one hollow. You also must feel the need of refreshment, for you are very pale." "I am not at all hungry, monsieur." "One isn't hungry at first; but afterward one eats very well. Besides, we came here to dine, if I'm not mistaken." "Look you, monsieur; have the kindness to order--ask for whatever you choose--whatever you would like; but don't compel me to think about it."