"Aha! Jericourt doesn't keep us waiting to-day; that is magnificent!" cried Zizi; "but something extraordinary must have happened to him." "Nothing has happened to me but the desire to be in your company as soon as possible, fair lady." "Well! what did I say? that is extraordinary enough!" While the literary man addressed a few words to the young actress, Saint-Arthur approached Roncherolle and whispered in his ear: "I have thought of a delightful way to have my bird come in and speak, without being seen." "Indeed! what is it?" "A pie--you know, like those they have on the stage; it will be brought in and put on the table, and the parrot will be inside." "That may be amusing, in truth; but on the stage pasteboard pies may create an illusion; here, on the contrary, seen at such close quarters, I am afraid that it will miss its effect." "Oh! I anticipated that, and so it will have a genuine pie crust. I gave my orders to Beauvinet, and he is to take the bird to an excellent pastry cook, who is to cover it with the crust; then Beauvinet will bring us the pie." "That makes a difference; in that case, the illusion will be perfect." "Isn't it an ingenious plan?" "But aren't you afraid that your parrot will stifle in the pie?" "Why so? They are shut up in cages." "True, but I should say that they have more air there." "Bah! just for a short time. Besides, I told Beauvinet to tell them to make some little holes on top, so that he may have light, and that we may hear him plainly." "In that case, everything will be all right." They took their places at the table. Jericourt treated Roncherolle with the utmost ceremony; but from time to time, he cast his eyes upon the bunch of violets which the latter wore in his buttonhole, and then a mocking smile played about his lips; but Roncherolle apparently did not notice it. "The champagne lessons will come with the dessert," said Saint-Arthur, "because they always disarrange the table a bit. We spill the champagne over ourselves, so it is better to wait." "It is all one to me," said Zizi; "I am quite willing to wait now, for I have fallen violently in love with madeira." "And monsieur is arranging some lessons even more unique than the last, no doubt?" said Jericourt, addressing Roncherolle. "Yes, monsieur; in fact, I am preparing a lesson for you, which, I fancy, you hardly expect." Meanwhile, after the first course, Saint-Arthur betrayed the liveliest impatience, and kept ringing for the waiter and asking him: "Has no one come to see me? Isn't there any messenger outside for me?" "No, monsieur, no one has come." "The deuce! he is very late!" "What! are you expecting other guests?" said Jericourt. "Yes,--that is to say, I am expecting something for the dinner." "A surprise he has arranged for me," said Zizi; "I haven't any idea what it is, but I like to think that it will be superb!" At last the waiter announced: "Monsieur, there's a man here with a pie."