"Oh! not too early, if it's all the same to you; for I am a little lazy about getting up in the morning." "Very good--say ten o'clock?" "Ten o'clock it is, at Porte Saint-Mandé; there are a number of very pleasant, solitary little nooks in that neighborhood, and it's less common than the Bois de Boulogne. Is that satisfactory to you?" "Entirely so; and your weapons?" "Whatever you choose." "Pistols, then." "Agreed." "I shall have one second; I believe that one is sufficient, in this country?" "We are at liberty to have two; but, as you say, one is enough." "Until to-morrow, then!" "Until to-morrow, monsieur le comte! and now, I believe that there is nothing further to detain us here." The Swede bowed with an almost affable expression, and opened the door of the boudoir, pausing to allow Albert to go out first; but he would not. After a contest of politeness, the count finally went first, and they soon reached the foot of the staircase. The concierge was asleep; before he opened the door, Albert produced a dainty cigar case from his pocket and took out a cigar, saying: "I am in the habit of smoking every night before I go to bed." "I am very much annoyed," said the count; "I have forgotten my case, and I also am fond of smoking when I go home at night." "In that case, allow me to offer you a cigar, monsieur le comte," said Albert, offering the Swede his case. "I am sure you will like them; they are very good indeed." Monsieur Dahlborne bowed, and took a cigar. Meanwhile, the concierge had opened the door, and Albert lighted his cigar at the lamp in the porch. When they were in the street, noticing that his rival had no light, he offered the lighted end of his cigar, and the count lighted his by it; then they bowed again, with the utmost courtesy, repeating: "Until to-morrow!" "At ten o'clock." "At Porte Saint-Mandé." XXI TOBIE AS CHEVALIER Tobie left Bastringuette, convinced that the lady who desired to see him the next evening could be no other than she whom he had failed to triumph over on the Champs-Élysées. He determined to be very prompt at the rendezvous, and not to take his charmer to a private dining-room overlooking a mountebank's booth. The young man passed the whole of the next day dressing and curling and perfuming himself. "To-night," he thought, "the voluptuous Plays shall not escape me; indeed, as she herself has made the assignation, it is probable that it is not her intention to be too cruel. I shall have in her such a mistress as I desire. She is rich, and they say she is capable of doing insane things for a man she loves. Suppose she should be willing to redeem my olive from Varinet--why not?--until Aunt Abraham gives me an interest in her business. Faith! I feel disposed to be very amorous."