"Very good, messieurs," said Adhémar; "the reprieve for a year is granted; as for myself, I don't imagine that it will change my position at all." Philémon Dubotté rose and left the table, saying: "You are very pleasant companions, messieurs; but my wife expects me to dinner, and if I should be late again I should find her weeping in her soup. Au revoir, and may destiny be propitious to you!" And the handsome blond departed. "He goes off without paying," said Dodichet; "our friend doesn't stand on ceremony." "He probably forgot it," said Lucien; "but we three will pay." "Sapristi! I find that I forgot to bring my purse!" said Dodichet, feeling in his pockets. Adhémar smiled and made haste to pay the waiter, saying: "Allow me to be your host, messieurs; it will give me great pleasure. I believe you know my address, my dear Lucien; do come to see me sometimes." "Thanks, my dear Adhémar; I shall not forget your invitation.--Adieu, Dodichet!" Lucien Grischard also took his leave. "He is proud," said Adhémar, as he and Dodichet left the café together. "He doesn't come to see me, because he is poor and doesn't choose that anyone shall help him." "Well, then, he's wrong. I am not like that, thank you," rejoined Dodichet; "a man shouldn't be proud with his friends. And so, Adhémar, d'ye see, I don't hesitate to say to you: I have left my purse at home; pray lend me a hundred sous. I will pay you the next time I see you." "My dear Dodichet, I like above all things to oblige my friends, but you abuse your privilege. I have lent you many hundred-sou pieces, which you are always going to repay--but you never do." "Very good! listen: lend me ten francs, and I'll pay back a hundred sous right away." Adhémar could not help laughing, and, on the strength of the jest, lent Dodichet a hundred sous. II A BURNING DRESS Let us leave Philémon Dubotté to return to his wife, casting languishing glances at all the passably pretty women he meets on his way; let us leave Lucien Grischard to muse upon possible methods of earning money without departing from the pathway of honor; and Fanfan Dodichet to cudgel his brains to invent a practical joke to play on Monsieur Mirotaine, who regaled his company with cocoa; and let us follow Adhémar, who had no schemes in his head except that of a comedy of which he was just planning the dénouement.