"An assignation for this evening?" queried Célestin, with an indifferent air. "No, not until to-morrow. So I can pass the evening, and the night too, with you. I am entirely at your service." "So much the better; we will have a hot game." "I shall win, for I am in a lucky vein." "That's not certain; lucky in love doesn't mean lucky at cards; the proverb says just the opposite." "For my part, I believe that luck in one brings luck in the other. So look out for yourselves to-night." "Messieurs," said Dupétrain, with his elbows on the table, and glaring at each of his companions in turn, in order to attract their attention, "I think that the time has come----" "To put us to sleep?" cried Balivan. "No; but to tell you about that extraordinary occurrence that I started to tell you a moment ago." "I say, messieurs," said Mouillot; "we may as well let him tell his story; if we don't, he won't give us a moment's peace this evening.--Go on, Dupétrain; but if it lasts too long, you won't be allowed to finish it." "Oh! messieurs, I am sure that the anecdote won't seem long to you; it's too interesting for that.--A young woman had a husband, who was travelling----" "You have already told us that three times." "This young woman was very desirous to know whether her husband, while he was away from her----" "A messenger wants to speak to Monsieur Pigeonnier," said the waiter, at the door. All the young men roared with laughter at the expression of Dupétrain's face when he was interrupted for the third time at the beginning of his story. But Tobie left the table, saying: "Excuse me a moment. Don't go on without me. I am coming right back." Paul was waiting for Tobie; he seemed very tired, and the perspiration was still streaming from his face. But Monsieur Pigeonnier began by saying to him: "It has taken you a very long time; you are very late; if I was a messenger, I would move quicker than this." "It's not my fault, monsieur," Paul replied. "I went first to the Marché du Temple, to see Madame Agar Abraham." "Speak lower, messenger, lower! Come to the foot of the stairs; there are too many people passing here." They went downstairs, and Tobie led Paul into the farthest corner of the courtyard. "Now, go on," he said; "I am listening." "I handed monsieur's letter to Madame Abraham." "Very good; where's the money she gave you?" "She gave me no money for monsieur; but after reading the letter, she cried: 'My nephew is trying to make a fool of me! does he suppose that I am going to support him in his extravagance? I won't lend him another sou! not another liard! and if he don't pay what he owes me---- '"