"My poor friend," I said, "pardon me for thus addressing you; but it appears to me that I know you since I have known your brother. Look here--you are unhappy, are not you? Now what is it?" "Oh, my goodness! Nothing worth talking about." I saw that he did not wish to speak on the subject, so I said no more. We took two or three turns in silence.--I was quite indifferent, for I expected nobody, but he was anxiously examining every domino that passed. At length I said, "Do you know what you might do to-night?" He started like a man suddenly aroused. "I! No. I beg your pardon; what did you say?" "I was about to propose a distraction which it seems to me you need." "What is it?" "Come to supper with a friend of mine, with me." "Oh, no--I am not in a festive humour." "Bah! They will talk nothing but nonsense, and that will amuse you." "Well--but I am not invited!" "You mistake--for you are." "It is very kind on your part--but 'pon my word I am not worthy of--" Just then we crossed D----. He seemed very much engaged with his bouquet of myosotis. Nevertheless he saw me. "Well," he said, "is it settled? Three o'clock." "Less settled than ever," I replied--"I cannot join you." "Go to the Devil, then!" And with this pious ejaculation he continued his course. "Who is that gentleman?" inquired Louis. "That is D----, one of my friends; a very cheerful youth, though he is the manager of one of our most respectable papers." "Monsieur D----!" exclaimed Louis. "Do you know _him?_" "Certainly. I have known him for some years." "And is he the person with whom you are invited to sup this evening?" "Yes, the same." "Then it was to his house you intended to take me?" "Yes." "Then that alters the case. I accept, and with very great pleasure." "All right. That settles the question." "Perhaps, after all, I ought not to go," muttered Louis, smiling sadly. "But you remember what I said yesterday about my destiny. Here is the proof. I should have done better not to have come here this evening." At this moment we again encountered D----. "My dear fellow," I said, "I have changed my mind!" "And you will join us?" "Yes." "Bravo! But I ought to mention one thing." "That is?" "That whoever sups with us to-night, sups with us again to-morrow evening." "By what law of society is that?" "By the laws of the wager made with Chateau Renaud." I felt Louis' arm quiver as it rested on mine--I turned round; but though his face was deadly pale, it was impassable. "What is the wager?" I inquired. "Oh, it would occupy too much time to repeat here, and, besides, some one interested might overhear, and it might thus be lost." "What wonderful discretion you possess! At three, then." "At three!" Once more we separated, and as I glanced at the clock I saw it then was thirty-five minutes past two. "Do you know this M. de Chateau Renaud?" asked Louis, who vainly attempted to command his voice, and to conceal his emotion.