"Charming! delicious! they are in the best taste--they are dainty and elegant! The breeches please me exceedingly, and I have an idea that the orange color will be very becoming to me.--Let us see the doublet." The doublet was of the same material and embellished with slashes of lemon-colored satin, like the short-clothes. Passedix was enchanted. "This harmonizes perfectly with the breeches!" he said; "it is perfect.--And the girdle?" "Here it is," said Plumard, producing one of orange silk with fringe of the same color. "Oh! how pretty it is, and how well they all go together!" said Passedix. "Now let us see the cloak." Bahuchet smilingly presented the cloak, which was orange velvet, faced with lemon-colored silk. "Admirable! magnificent!" cried Passedix. "Still, if the cloak had been of another color, to form a contrast with the rest----" "Oh! monsieur le chevalier, it is much richer, much more stylish, like this. Look at our king, Louis XIII--does he wear several colors? is he not almost always dressed in black throughout: short-clothes, doublet, and cloak?" "Sandioux! he is right! and I could not choose a nobler model!--Yes, all of one color--that is more harmonious, it is pleasanter to the eye. On my honor, I am enraptured with this costume! Let us drink, messieurs; I long to try it on." "We shall have the honor to serve you as valets de chambre, monsieur le chevalier." "You are too obliging! Drink, I say, young clerks!" Passedix, who was as impatient as a child over the prospect of putting on a new garment, hastily finished his dinner, then proceeded to his toilet. With the assistance of the two clerks, he speedily donned short-clothes, doublet, girdle, and cloak. Then he strode about the room, looked at himself in the great mirror that adorned the mantelpiece, and seemed not to tire of viewing himself both before and behind. "How do you find me?" he asked the young men; "tell me, without flattery." Every part of the costume was much too large for the Gascon, whose thin, lank body danced about in his new clothes. But Bahuchet assumed an expression of admiration as he gazed at him, and exclaimed: "It suits you magnificently, seigneur chevalier! One would swear that the costume was made for you; it makes you stouter.--Egad! how handsome you are now!" "The short-clothes are perhaps a little full, are they not?" "That will be all right; you are superb!" "In truth, I believe that I am not to be despised in this garb; and if the little one should see me now, it is probable that she would be less surly; but she shall see me--I must meet her somewhere. I propose to exhibit myself to the whole city." "You will find no cruel fair, seigneur."