Julia went downstairs. Although it was in the depth of winter the morning was beautiful; the young Italian left by the peristyle and plunged into the gardens, where she walked up and down the long pathways and gave herself up to her thoughts. Day had surprised Marcel and his guest sleeping near the table where they had supped. Marcel awoke first, recalled his ideas, and could not conceive why his master had not returned in the night. However, the door-bell hung in the room where they had slept, and the marquis was a man who was able to make himself heard. Marcel pushed Chaudoreille, who opened his little eyes and gazed about him in astonishment, murmuring,-- "By jingo! I am not at home in the Rue Brise-miche nor in the gambling den on the Rue Vide-Gousset. Where the devil have I passed the night? My purse--where is my purse? I had eight crowns in it." Chaudoreille quickly seized his purse and counted his money, and Marcel said to him,-- "Come, wake up, why don't you? and remember where you are. Do you think me capable of robbing you?" "Good-for-nothing that I am! that good fellow Marcel--I remember everything now. Forgive me, my friend; but at the first moment I thought I was at a tavern where I sleep sometimes. What the devil! it's broad daylight." "Yes, and monsieur le marquis did not come in during the night; I can't understand why." "It is rather singular, and that poor little thing whom we took so much trouble to bring here, what has she done with herself since yesterday?" "She's slept the same as we have." "Ah, my dear Marcel, it's easily seen that you have not studied the sex. Sleep!--a woman who is waiting her vanquisher for the first time? She would sooner keep awake all night than go to sleep." "But when the vanquisher doesn't come, it's necessary for her to do something." "Never! never I tell you. Wait, here's an example: I had once arranged a meeting with a baroness on the borders of the Seine, near the Tour de Nesle; that also was in winter, and it was horribly cold. Unforeseen events--a duel--prevented my meeting my beauty. I was wounded, and spent eight days in bed. On the ninth, as I passed the neighborhood indicated, by chance, whom should I see there?" "Your baroness?" "Exactly. But, the poor woman, she had been frozen for four days, and that because she would not leave the place of rendezvous." "Our dame has a good fire and everything that she can desire; she won't freeze while awaiting my master." "What do you say, Marcel; shall I go upstairs and chat pleasantly with her to distract her mind a little?" "No, indeed, that would be displeasing to monsieur le marquis." "Well, you're right; I suppose he might take offence at it." "Don't you think you had much better go and find the person who brought her here, and tell him that monsieur has not come?"