"Do you think that I shall find him?" "Certainly, monsieur; for I just left him, and he was just going to get up." "Thanks! Pardon me, madame; a word or two more, if you please." "As many as you want, monsieur; I'm in no hurry." "I would be glad, madame, to obtain some information about this gentleman: to know who he is, and what he does." "Mon Dieu! it won't take long to tell you; he don't do anything, he lives on his income; he's a man who used to be very rich, and who did as so many others do--ran through his fortune with fast women; now, he's on his uppers; for I guess the income isn't very heavy!" "Exceedingly obliged, madame." Monleard left Madame Louchard, and went up to Cherami's room. That worthy was dressing behind his screen; but as it barely reached his shoulders, he was perfectly able to see anybody who came in, and could converse over the leaves of the article of furniture which encompassed him. "Monsieur Arthur Cherami?" said the fashionably dressed young man as he entered. "Present! here I am, monsieur. A thousand pardons for not being dressed; but it will take me only a minute. Pray be kind enough to take a seat while you wait." "Thanks, I am not tired." "Then, remain standing. You may do as you please.--Where the devil did I put my false collar?" "You divine the motive of my visit, monsieur, I fancy?" "What! do I divine it? Why, I have been waiting for you, with some impatience. But I said to myself: 'That gentleman will not come very early, because, on the day after his wedding---- ' Ha! ha! I don't think I need say any more." "It has occurred to me, monsieur, that our duel might as well take place without witnesses. The subject of our dispute is such a delicate one! There are some things which one doesn't like to make a noise about; for the world, which is unkind, as a general rule, sometimes makes a mountain out of what was----" "Only a mouse--_parturiens montes._ I am entirely of your opinion.--Ah! I have my collar." "Then, monsieur, you consent to fight with no other witness than my servant?" "Very gladly; I have already fought that way more than once." "Thinking that you might have no weapons, monsieur, I brought two swords and a pair of pistols with me." "You did very well; for, as you foresaw, I am without weapons at this moment. Ah! I used to have some beautiful ones in the old days! My pistols were made by Devisme; I could bring down a fly at fifty yards; but I had to let them go. What would you have? _Deus dederat, Deus abstulit._--I will just put on my coat, and I am at your service." "This is a most extraordinary individual," said Auguste Monleard to himself as he listened. The Latin with which Cherami sprinkled his discourse, and his air of good-breeding, had modified the opinion he had formed of him; and he was not sorry to learn that he was not about to fight with a man devoid of breeding and education.