"It matters little whether I give the plume to the father or the mother. I prefer to address myself to the father; men understand each other better. I must be shrewd and subtle.--Ah! good evening, Master Landry! How are you this evening? You are smoking, I see; that is a pleasant pastime. I should like very much to smoke, if it did not make me sick and make my head ache so that I can't see. I have an uncle who went into consumption from smoking a pipe, and two cousins who were made insane!--Ah! how pleasant it is to smoke!--The skies are dark to-night, and I am afraid we shall have a storm to-morrow; that would be a disappointment to me. I have a longing to take a ride in a _chaise à porteurs_, or a _brouette_--the new invention, you know? it is very convenient, and very fashionable in the best society; _brouettes_ cost only sixteen sous for the trip, or eighteen by the hour; while the _chaise à porteurs_ costs thirty sous for the trip. That is dear--yes, it's very dear! But how comfortable it must be in one!--Still, it's very nice in a _brouette_!" Landry listened tranquilly to this outflow of words, eying the young clerk the while; when it was at an end, he answered coldly: "As I don't know you, and as it makes no difference to me whether you ride in a _chaise_ or in a _brouette_, I am going to bed. Good-night!" "Oh! stay a moment! You are in a terrible hurry. You do not recognize me, because it is beginning to grow dark, but I am one of your best customers; I bathe as many as fifteen times a week!--But so many people come to your place that you can't recognize all their faces!" "That is possible! In that case, excuse me; but I am tired, and I am going to bed." "One moment more, I beg!--Does your charming daughter also enjoy perfect health, like her worthy father?" The old soldier began to examine the clerk more closely, muttering: "My daughter! do you know my daughter, monsieur de la Basoche?" "Ah! I know her--without knowing her. I know that she is enchanting, because I have seen her sometimes on your balcony, when she was watering her flowers." "Ah! you have seen her, have you? Very good; I begin to understand.--Well, what are you trying to come at to-night?" "I' faith! I will tell you. See--I have here a superb white plume; I had it from an aunt who had it from an uncle, who was train bearer at the court of King Charles IX.--To make a long story short, I said to myself: 'Such a handsome plume as this is a pure luxury in my hands; if I should offer it to Master Landry's daughter, it would be a gift worthy of her charms, and it would shade becomingly her brow of roses and lilies.'--That idea once conceived, I determined to put it in execution. Here, excellent bath keeper, is the plume in question; you see how beautiful it is! Pray take it and hand it to your fascinating progeny; I desire no other reward than the pleasure of knowing that she is gratified by the gift."