What were the exact reflections of Monsieur Margot, in that position, I cannot pretend to determine, because he never favoured me with them; but about an hour afterwards, Vincent and I (who had been delayed on the road), strolling up the street, according to our appointment, perceived, by the dim lamps, some opaque body leaning against the wall of Madame Laurent’s house, at about the distance of fifteen feet from the ground. We hastened our steps towards it; a measured and serious voice, which I well knew, accosted us--“For God’s sake, gentlemen, procure me assistance; I am the victim of a perfidious woman, and expect every moment to be precipitated to the earth.” “Good Heavens!” said I, “surely it is Monsieur Margot, whom I hear. What are you doing there?” “Shivering with cold,” answered Monsieur Margot, in a tone tremulously slow. “But what are you in? for I can see nothing but a dark substance.” “I am in a basket,” replied Monsieur Margot, “and I should be very much obliged to you to let me out of it.” “Well--indeed,” said Vincent, (for I was too much engaged in laughing to give a ready reply,) “your Chateau-Margot has but a cool cellar. But there are some things in the world easier said than done. How are we to remove you to a more desirable place?” “Ah,” returned Monsieur Margot, “how indeed! There is to be sure a ladder in the porter’s lodge long enough to deliver me; but then, think of the gibes and jeers of the porter--it will get wind--I shall be ridiculed, gentlemen--I shall be ridiculed--and what is worse, I shall lose my pupils.” “My good friend,” said I, “you had better lose your pupils than your life; and the day-light will soon come, and then, instead of being ridiculed by the porter, you will be ridiculed by the whole street!” Monsieur Margot groaned. “Go, then, my friend,” said he, “procure the ladder! Oh, those she devils!--what could make me such a fool!” Whilst Monsieur Margot was venting his spleen in a scarcely articulate mutter, we repaired to the lodge, knocked up the porter, communicated the accident, and procured the ladder. However, an observant eye had been kept upon our proceedings, and the window above was re-opened, though so silently that I only perceived the action. The porter, a jolly, bluff, hearty-looking fellow, stood grinning below with a lantern, while we set the ladder (which only just reached the basket) against the wall.