I lived on the fourth floor; to obtain a desirable bachelor's apartment on Rue Saint-Florentin, one had to pay a dear price, even if it were very high. On the same landing with me lived a curious mortal of some thirty-six to forty years, whose face would have been insignificant but for the fact that his absurd airs and pretensions made it comical. He was of medium height, and strove to assume an agile and sprightly gait and bearing, despite an embonpoint which became more pronounced every day. He had four thousand francs a year, which left him free to devote himself to the business of other people. Moreover, he was poet, painter, musician; combining all the talents, as he said and believed, but in reality a butt for the ridicule of both men and women, especially the latter; but he insinuated himself everywhere, none the less, attended every party, every ball, every concert; because in society everybody is popular who arouses laughter, whether it be by his wit or by his absurdities. We had just arrived at my landing, when Monsieur Raymond suddenly opened his door and appeared before us in his shirt and cotton nightcap, with a candle in one hand, and a key in the other. I did not know whether to step forward or to turn back. Monsieur Raymond stared with all his eyes, and Nicette laughed aloud. I was determined that he should not, at all events, have time to scrutinize the girl; I fumbled hastily in my pocket for my key, but it was entangled in my handkerchief; I could not get it out, I could not find the lock; the more I tried to hurry, the less I succeeded; it seemed that the devil was taking a hand! Monsieur Raymond, observing my embarrassment, walked toward me with a mischievous smile and held his light under my nose, saying: "Allow me to give you some light, neighbor; you can't see, you are at one side of the lock." I would gladly have given him the blow that Madame Jérôme had given me! but I realized that I must restrain myself; so I thanked him, unlocked my door, and entered, pushing Nicette before me. I closed the door, paying no heed to Monsieur Raymond's offer to light my candle for me. But suddenly an idea came into my mind; I took a candle, opened my door again, and ran after Raymond, seizing him by his shirt just as he was entering a certain place. I put my finger to my lips, with a mysterious air. "What's the matter?" queried Raymond, extricating his shirt from my hand. "Don't mention the fact that you saw Agathe with me to-night." "A--Agathe! What do you say? Why, you are joking!" "We have just come from a masquerade; she disguised herself for it, and----" "Do you mean to say that there are masquerade balls in July?" "There are if anyone chooses to give one; this was for somebody's birthday." "But that girl----" "She is well disguised, isn't she? I'll bet that you didn't recognize her at the first glance. The costume--the rouge--they change one's whole appearance."