And Dubourg, oblivious of the fact that he was on top of a carriage in the courtyard, shouted: "Don't take any cards! Play your hand, play it, I tell you! I'll answer for the point!" The voice surprised the players beyond words. They turned and stared, and questioned each other. "Who was that who undertook to advise me?" demanded the old man whose turn it was to play. "Has he got more at stake than I have, to give him the right to talk like that? Why don't you answer, messieurs?" "The voice came from the courtyard," said a young man near the window. "From the courtyard! from the courtyard! Do you mean to say that those rascally footmen presume to watch us play and to make remarks?" And the old gentleman with the powdered head left his seat and looked into the courtyard. Dubourg jumped down from the carriage, and the shock woke the horses; whereupon they began to prance, and tried to run. The drowsy coachmen rubbed their eyes, thinking that the ball was over; those who were talking hurried to their seats, and those in the street, observing the commotion in the courtyard, did the same; while the coachman and footmen of the carriage on which Dubourg had perched struggled to pacify the horses. Meanwhile, Dubourg had slunk away by the side of the house. "It seems that I must always put my foot in it!" he muttered. "Here are thirty coachmen and as many footmen all stirred up, and a pair of horses have nearly trampled on me, just because I attempted to advise that old fellow who doesn't know how to play the game and was going to ask for cards when he ought to take every trick! That's the last time I'll ever meddle in other people's business." As Dubourg crept along by the wall, he came to a door just as a servant came out to ascertain the cause of the noise in the courtyard. Dubourg recognized Frédéric's valet, and instantly accosted him. "Where is your master, Germain?" "Ah! is it you, monsieur?" said the servant, who had often seen Dubourg with his young master. "Have you come to the ball?" "No, no; I have no desire to dance. Where is your master, I ask you?" "Oh! Monsieur Frédéric is dancing. There are some beautiful women inside, and he's an amateur, you know." "The deuce! I would like to speak with him; I have something very important to say to him, but I don't want to disturb him, or to go into the salon; I am not dressed." "If you wish, monsieur, I will take you to Monsieur Frédéric's apartment; you can wait there comfortably until he retires." "That's a delightful idea of yours, Germain; take me to Frédéric's apartment at once." Germain took a candle and went before Dubourg, who was overjoyed to have found a place to finish the night. The valet, who had seen his master display great friendliness to Dubourg, was certain that he would not be reproved for what he was doing. In due time, they arrived at the young man's apartment, which was so far from the ballroom that the music could barely be heard.