Elina blushed to the whites of her eyes when she saw the young men; Paul quivered with wrath, and would have rushed down the ladder, but Célestin had just taken it away. "Things seem to be progressing up there," said Mouillot; "we're beginning our day well." "On my word, she is charming!" said Albert; "Balivan didn't deceive us." "True, so far as her face goes." "Why have you come here, messieurs? what do you want?" demanded Paul; "why do you presume to take away the ladder? Put it back at once!" "Aha! the lover is losing his temper!" said Mouillot. "But, just consider--suppose we were evil-minded? We have you both in a cage up there--suppose we should go and tell the young lady's parents; what would you say?" "That there is no harm, messieurs, in going into a loft when one is moving furniture there; and that is why I am here now with mademoiselle." "Ah! not bad! not bad! and it was part of the moving to kiss her, I suppose; and to swear eternal love, young Lothario?" "I kissed mademoiselle's hand only, monsieur. As to what I said to her, that doesn't concern you; you had no right to listen." "Hoity-toity! then you should lock the doors, imprudent children that you are!" "Why, God bless me! the lover is one of our messengers, Sans-Cravate's mate!" "Yes, that is so! it was he who did Tobie's errands yesterday. Ah! young dressmaker! is it possible? you listen to a messenger? Why, you degrade yourself, girl; your trade entitles you to look higher--especially with such lovely eyes!" "Treat mademoiselle with respect, messieurs!" exclaimed Paul; "or I'll make you repent your insolence!" "Do you, knave," retorted Célestin, "begin by holding your tongue; if not, you'll be whipped for your impertinence." "We shall not put back the ladder except on several conditions," said Albert; "first, that the little dressmaker allow us to kiss her." "I," said Mouillot, "demand that she measure me for a pair of drawers." Elina made no reply; in her distress, she had taken refuge in the farthest corner of the loft, where she tried to avoid the glances of the young men. But Paul could not control his wrath; he jumped down into the room below, at the risk of injuring himself, rushed at Célestin, snatched the ladder from him with a powerful hand, and placed it against the entrance to the loft. "Now, let anyone dare to take it away, and he will have to settle with me!" The messenger had acted so rapidly and energetically that the young men were speechless for a moment. Then Célestin walked toward Paul, saying: "Leave this room instantly! Gentlemen like us do not care to soil our hands with a fellow of your stamp; but if I had a cane, I'd break it over your shoulders." Paul took his stand in front of Célestin and looked him straight in the eye, as he rejoined: