"Because--well, go on." "Because madame is not alone. There's a gentleman with her." "A gentleman! What gentleman? It can't be Count Dahlborne, for I have just left him, and he is wounded." "No, monsieur; it isn't Count Dahlborne." "Well, then, who is it? Tell me, Rosa. Here, take this, and conceal nothing from me." Albert resorted to the irresistible argument; he took several gold pieces from his pocket and put them in the servant's hand, and thereby completely loosed her tongue; indeed, she had a tender regard for the young man, because he was an exceedingly comely youth, and with many women, especially young women, that, too, is an irresistible argument. "Well, monsieur," replied Rosa, speaking very low, "madame is with that tall young man--one of your friends, I think, as I have met him sometimes walking with you." "What! can it be Célestin?" "That's the name--it is Monsieur Célestin." "And he comes here? Madame Baldimer receives him?" "Oh, yes! quite often, too." "Is he her lover?" "No, no! oh! as to that, I assure you that he isn't anything of the kind; not that he doesn't want to be, for he makes love to madame; but, between you and me, I think she's fooling him." "He comes to see her! and he never told me!" "_Pardi!_ he'd be mighty careful not to, as he comes and tells madame everything you do; and, between you and me, I think that's all madame receives him for." "The villain! can it be possible? play the spy on me!" "And this morning, only a moment ago, I heard--because, you see, when I'm near the door, I can hear very well without listening; I have sharp ears--I heard Monsieur Célestin tell Madame Baldimer that you were to fight a duel this morning with Count Dahlborne; that he was watching last night in the street, and heard you say: 'Until to-morrow, at ten o'clock, at Porte Saint-Mandé.'" "Ah! this is too much!" And Albert rushed toward the salon, paying no heed to Rosa, who besought him not to betray her; he strode rapidly through two rooms to the boudoir, opened the door, and found himself in the presence of Madame Baldimer and his intimate friend Célestin. The lovely widow was half reclining on a couch, listening to Monsieur Célestin, who sat on a chair a few feet away, apparently talking with much earnestness. At sight of Albert, both were petrified; but in Célestin's case, it was simply regret at being surprised in Madame Baldimer's house; whereas, in her case, it was consternation and rage at the certainty that her hopes were crushed. "It is I," said Albert, throwing himself into a chair; "I am sure that you did not expect me; madame flattered herself, no doubt, that Count Dahlborne had relieved her of my presence, as she begged him to do last night, after making a similar request of me, in a whisper, with respect to him." The fair American turned ghastly pale, while Monsieur Célestin rose and took his hat.