Madame Baldimer made one or two of the commonplace remarks which people employ to open a conversation. The Swede replied with his usual brevity. Albert did not say a word. At last, at a moment when nothing was being said, the count took a velvet case from his pocket, and handed it to Madame Baldimer, saying: "Here is a trifle--to take the place of the fan; it isn't so breakable." The widow opened the case, which contained a magnificent opera glass of most beautiful workmanship; she uttered a cry of admiration, and, taking the glass from the case, handed it to Albert, saying: "Did you ever see anybody so gallant?" "It looks very much as if this woman were making a fool of me!" said Albert to himself. However, he restrained himself, and, merely glancing at the glass, cried with an affected enthusiasm which closely resembled mockery: "Oh! it is magnificent! Great God! how beautiful it is! I would like right well to know where monsieur finds such beautiful things!" The Swede bit his lips, but said nothing. Madame Baldimer continued to extol the opera glass; and Albert, glancing at the shawl, which lay neglected on a chair, said to himself: "God! what fools men are sometimes!" But the conversation languished. Madame Baldimer made but a feeble effort to sustain it. The Swede said a word or two at once, never more than that; and Albert contented himself with ejaculating at intervals: "Mon Dieu! what an opera glass! it is dazzling!" Whereupon the count made an imperceptible grimace, and glanced furtively at the young man. It was long after twelve o'clock. The gentlemen seemed no more disposed to give way to each other than on the day of the fan. Suddenly Madame Baldimer rose. "It is very late, messieurs," she said; "I am going to bed, and I bid you good-night!" The two men rose to salute her. The lovely widow took occasion to whisper to Albert, as she asked him to hand her the shawl: "That man is insufferable to me; try to rid me of him." Albert simply bowed, without a word. Then, as she passed the count, she said in his ear: "That young man is always at my heels; pray find some way to relieve me of his presence." The Swede, in his turn, made a low bow. Thereupon she left the two gentlemen in the boudoir, each reflecting upon what she had just whispered to him. They glanced at each other from time to time--Albert with a mocking expression, the count with a slight frown. After some minutes had passed thus, the Swede decided to speak first. He walked up to Albert, and said to him, still in a most ceremonious tone: "It seems to me, monsieur, that you meant to be understood as making fun of the opera glass which I presented to Madame Baldimer." "Faith! yes," the young man airily replied; "after all, monsieur, that's as good a motive as any! and I fancy that we both understand what we have in view." "Perfectly, monsieur. At what hour to-morrow, if you please?"