"Parbleu! we will find out who this fellow is who takes the liberty of speaking to ladies whom he doesn't know!" Cherami had just offered his hand to a pretty little woman, who had refused it and instantly put her handkerchief to her nose. This pantomime, having been frequently repeated in front of the ex-beau, began to offend him, and he suddenly exclaimed: "Deuce take it! what's the matter with all these prudes, that they hide their faces with their handkerchiefs? Can it be because they think that I have any desire to kiss them! Ah! I've seen prettier women than you--who didn't run away from me, my princesses!" "To whom are you speaking, monsieur? Is it these ladies to whom you dare to address such language?" "Hallo! who's this? where did he come from? Ah! what a noble head!" "It is for you, monsieur, to answer those questions. Off with you, at once, or I'll put you out-of-doors." "Out-of-doors, eh? Understand that I dined here--with my friend Gustave--Gustave something or other--and that I have as much right as you to stay here--that I won't go away." "I forbid you to speak to these ladies." "Thanks! I have my cue." The ladies interposed to prevent a dispute, and succeeded in taking their champions away with them, saying: "You can see that the man's drunk. What satisfaction do you expect to obtain from a man who hasn't his senses? Leave him there, and pay no more attention to him." The men yielded to this request, and they left Cherami standing there and entered the ballroom. Meanwhile, the waiter who had served the dinner in the private room ran up to Cherami. "The gentleman who dined with you is going away; someone has come for him." "What! my friend Gustave going away? Why, it's impossible! He won't go without me; besides, he's waiting for the bride; we must have the bride; she's been promised to us." "He's going, I tell you." The ex-beau decided to return to the private room, and found at the door his young friend and a man of mature years, short of stature, but with a cold, stern face which imposed respect. They were on the point of leaving. "Well, well! what does this mean?" cried Cherami. "What! my dear Gustave, going, and without me--your intimate friend, your Orestes, your Patroclus?" "Who is this new friend of yours, whom I don't know, whom I have never seen with you?" the short man asked Gustave, whose arm he held fast. "It's a gentleman who has been kind enough to take some interest in me, uncle," faltered Gustave;--"I was so unhappy--and to keep me company." "And whose dinner you have paid for, I presume? Your friend did not spare himself." "What do I hear? Monsieur is your uncle?" "Yes, monsieur; I am Gustave's uncle." "Then you are Monsieur Grandcourt?" "Just so." "Oh! Delighted to make the acquaintance of my friend's uncle." "I am obliged to you, monsieur; but we are going."