Jéricourt found people of his opinion; and thus it was that he became an author by revamping what others had done before him. And he ended by believing himself to be an inventor, a man of genius, and by making idiots of the type of his friend Saint-Arthur believe it also. The number of fools is infinite! “Well, my pretty flower girl, I must have a wonderful, a stupendous bouquet!” said Alfred, halting in front of Violette; “it’s for a lady who knows what’s what, and who has already had the most beautiful bouquets that are made in Paris,--isn’t that so, Jéricourt?--_Sapristi!_ I haven’t a cigar; Jéricourt, my dear fellow, make me a cigarette, will you?” “You don’t like them.” “Ah! it is true that I have become so accustomed to panatelas--I say! look at that little woman yonder! She turned around to look at me. If I weren’t in such a hurry, I’d follow her.” “Aha! would you be unfaithful to Zizi Dutaillis?” “Oh! pardieu! a little amourette of a moment.--Make me a cigarette.--Well, flower girl! you don’t show me anything.” “Why, monsieur, you see what I have; choose for yourself.” “Choose for myself! why, all this stuff is horrible! these bouquets are good for nobody but circus riders! I don’t want any of these. I told you that I wanted something wonderful, such a bouquet as never yet was seen.” “I will make you up one!” “All right! but hurry. Zizi is waiting for me, and she doesn’t like to wait; her nerves are all upset when I am late.” “Here’s your cigarette.” “Thanks, my boy. Have you fire?” “Always, when I am before this fascinating flower girl. Pray look at those eyes! did you ever see anything more alluring?” “True! for a flower girl’s eyes, they are very fair.” “And that nose, that mouth, and that cruel air, which would be so becoming to her if it were not genuine!” “Ah! mademoiselle is cruel, is she?” “Alas! yes, my dear Alfred.--Would you believe that for nearly a month I have been sighing at her feet, and without making any progress?” “The deuce, my boy, you don’t know how to go about it! You tempt me to try my hand with the flower girl. If I should undertake it, I will wager that the affair would go faster,--eh, my girl?” As he spoke, Alfred tried to take Violette’s arm; but she struck him across the fingers with a bunch of roses and lilacs that she held; and as there were some thorns in the bunch, the young dandy made a wry face as he withdrew his hand. “_Bigre!_ she has scratched my fingers! Is this flower girl a Lucretia?” “I told you that she resisted me, and yet you choose to meddle!” “She plays the prude; but if I had time! I am terribly afraid of being late. Zizi will be angry; she plays to-night, and she is much more nervous when she plays! You are coming to dine with us, Jéricourt, are you not?” “Impossible.” “Bah! why impossible?” “Because I dine with this lovely girl, with the flower girl.--Isn’t it true, Violette, that you will dine with me to-day?”