"Oh! formerly--that may be! but formerly and to-day--there's half a century between the two.--Say, monsieur, ought we to wait for his friend, who's always loafing, but always keeps people waiting, to give himself importance? Just exactly like the people who are slightly known in art or literature, and who, the first time a new play is given, never come till they're sure it's begun, because then everybody has to move to let them get to their stalls. And they're convinced that everyone says: 'Ah! that's So-and-so; that's the famous author! that's the celebrated artist! see--he combs his hair in a way that shows his genius!'--But instead of the exclamations of admiration that they think they call forth as they pass, if they had sharper ears, they'd hear: 'Oh! what a nuisance! what a bore! to disturb everybody in the middle of an act! The devil take the fellow! He must be very anxious to show himself! but he isn't much to look at! It's just a little bit of self-advertising! And then!'--isn't that so, monsieur?" "Why, do you know, fascinating Zizi, that you are a keen observer?" "I don't know what I am, but I know that I have a tremendous appetite, and that I want to dine. It's five minutes to six. We have waited a long while already." "I agree with you, a lady should never wait for a gentleman." Saint-Arthur rang and the waiter served the dinner. They attacked the oysters, which they watered with an excellent chablis. From time to time the host exclaimed: "I don't care, I'm surprised that Jericourt doesn't come; I told him that he would dine with my honorable neighbor." "You should have announced a neighbor of the other gender," said Roncherolle; "that would have been more likely to attract the gentleman." "Never mind! never mind! let's go on eating! He'll come for dessert and we'll give him some nuts and raisins," said Zizi. But just as the soup was served, Jericourt appeared; and he scowled slightly when he saw that they had not waited dinner for him. "I say! come on, you miserable slow-coach!" cried Saint-Arthur; "don't you ever mean to be punctual?" "What difference does it make--when you don't wait for me?" retorted Jericourt, with a bare salute to the company. "Wait for you!" cried Zizi; "on my word! I think not! Catch us having pains in the stomach for monsieur!" "My friend," said Alfred, "let me present Monsieur de Roncherolle, my neighbor." Jericourt bent his head slightly, with a patronizing glance at Roncherolle, whose costume probably seemed to him far behind the fashion of the day. The old gentleman, observing the arrogant air with which the man of letters saluted him, made haste to say to Saint-Arthur: "I beg pardon, my dear neighbor, but I did not ask you to present me to monsieur. Present him to me, if you please--that is all right; but that I should be presented to him--that I don't like." Saint-Arthur was dumfounded; Jericourt compressed his lips and the little actress began to laugh, saying: