"Not much! as if a man could force a woman to do such things when it don't suit her! You're pretty countrified still, if you think that. A woman ain't to be forced--I don't care how many keys and picklocks you have. When she don't choose to--good-day!" "Well, then, why are you so dismal? is your new love affair going wrong already?" "I tell you that I haven't got any love affair--that I don't propose to have any more!" "But you say you tried to be unfaithful to Sans-Cravate?" "That's all right! that's my business, my secret; it don't concern you! Are you my fathers and mothers, to cross-examine me like this?" "Ha! ha! beware, messieurs, our ally is on the point of losing her temper." "Here, Bastringuette," said Albert, tossing a five-franc piece on the girl's tray; "this is for keeping a sharp lookout for Tobie, and we promise you twice as much more if you send him to the rendezvous as we have agreed." "All right, I'll try to earn it. Adieu, my little loves!" Bastringuette walked away; and the young men separated, promising to meet in front of Tortoni's at the same hour the next day. Albert did not fail to be at the rendezvous at the appointed time, and found Mouillot there. "Célestin and Balivan will be here directly," said the latter; "there's nothing new; Bastringuette hasn't left any word at the café. Have you had any better luck?" "No, I haven't succeeded in discovering the slightest trace of the quarry." "Perhaps we shall be more fortunate to-morrow." The next day brought no different result. On the fourth day, Balivan came running into Tortoni's just after his friends. "I've seen him," he cried, "on Rue de Bondy, near Porte Saint-Martin. I recognized him perfectly, and I am certain he saw me, too, for he turned purple and looked the other way." "Well! you ran after him----" "What did he say to you?" "Did you take him to Varinet's?" "Has he redeemed his olive?" "Mon Dieu! my friends, I don't know how it happened; but I noticed at that moment that my cigar was out, and I stepped into a tobacco shop close by to get a light; it took only a minute, but when I returned to the street I looked in every direction--all in vain; I couldn't find Tobie again!" "The devil take you!" "Oh! that's just like Balivan! He catches sight of the man we've been hunting for four days, and, instead of grabbing him, he goes into a shop to light his cigar!" "You ought to take yourself for your model! you'll never find such another." "Faith! messieurs, I think perhaps you'd have done the same, if you had been in my place. An excellent pure Havana cigar! A fellow can't afford to let it get cold; it's like coffee, it must be taken hot. However, we're sure now that Tobie's in Paris, that's something." "Why, who ever doubted it? But you won't be the one to make him pay Varinet."