This third idler was dressed with more pretension than taste; he had a huge scarfpin, with a cameo; a heavy hair chain, which he wore about his neck, fell over his waistcoat and held a little square monocle, which he put in his right eye from time to time. Add to these a very fine Malacca joint, with an enormous gold or gilt head, which he often held by the middle and twirled in the air, and you have a fair portrait of Tobie Pigeonnier. His baptismal name often led people to think that he was born in the Jewish religion; but whenever he was questioned on the subject, he seemed to take offence at the suggestion that he was a descendant of Jacob. Let us listen to the conversation of these young gentlemen; that is the best way of making acquaintance with people. Albert Vermoncey was telling his two friends an anecdote which seemed to amuse them mightily: "Yes, messieurs; it was at Madame Baldimer's last reception. You know whom I mean? that American who has made such a sensation in Paris, because she is very beautiful, very bright, and very original." "And who is supposed to be very rich," said Célestin. "Well, isn't she?" queried Tobie Pigeonnier, rubbing his nose with the head of his cane. "Why, people are beginning to doubt it; she gives very few big dinners now." "If she gives many small ones, that amounts to the same thing." "What a stupid creature you are, Tobie! Pray let me finish my story. Madame Plays was there with her husband. Good God! what a husband! he ought to serve as a model for them all." "Because his wife has given him a pair of horns that wouldn't pass under Porte Saint-Denis?" "Oho!" said Tobie, laughing uproariously; "do you mean to say that poor Monsieur Plays is a stag?" "I say, Célestin, to think that Tobie didn't know that! Where have you been, my dear fellow--to the Marquesas Islands? to the kingdom of Lahore?" "As if Tobie knew anything! When a man has passed his youth on Rue Beaubourg, he is bound to be far behind the times." "Oh! I have lived on Rue de la Ferme-des-Mathurins more than three years now." "Look, messieurs! see this coming toward us, with the little lilac hat and the pink dress. I rather like the looks of it. Here's a chance to shoot off your monocle, Tobie; especially as the wind makes the lady's dress cling close to her thighs, and we are going before the wind." "She isn't pretty," said Célestin, as the person with the lilac hat passed them. "Gad! Célestin, you shouted that in her ears; I'll bet that she heard you." "Well, suppose she did? aren't opinions free? I say, Tobie; speaking of Rue Beaubourg, I thought that nobody but Jews lived there." "That's a fable, you see, as I lived there." "That's no reason. You may be of that religion yourself." "I have told you many times that I am a Lutheran, of Polish descent. I don't know why you insist on calling me a Jew."