"Philippe, do you go to De Farraud's to-night?" asked De Bergeret suddenly. He was lounging on the couch in Philip's room, watching Philip adjust his patches. "De Farraud's? I'd not thought of it. Whom shall I meet there?" "Your very obedient," said De Bergeret, flourishing his hat. "The prospect does not entice me," answered Philip. "No, don't retort! Don't speak. Don't move!" He leaned forward, shifting a candle to throw its light on his face, and frowned at his reflection. The white hand that held the haresfoot wavered an instant, and then alighted at the corner of his mouth. Philip sat back, studying the effect. "Whom else shall I meet, Jules?" "The usual people, I fancy. And some others, no doubt." "De Farraud's friends are so very mixed," deplored Philip. "Do you suppose that De Chambert will be present?" "Nothing is more certain," yawned De Bergeret. "But it will be amusing, and the play will be high, which is all that matters." "But De Chambert wears puce small-clothes," objected Philip. "Does he? _Mordieu_, I'd like to see that! Puce small-clothes, forsooth! And what does our Philippe wear?" Philip glanced lovingly down at his pearl-grey breeches. "Grey, and palest pink, with lacings of silver." He slipped out of his gaily-hued robe, and stood up. De Bergeret levelled his eyeglass at him. "_Parbleu, Philippe!_ Grey lace!" Philip shook out his ruffles. "A sweet conceit, _hein_? But wait! François, my vest!" His valet brought it, and helped Philip to put it on. It was a very exquisite confection of pink and silver brocade. De Bergeret was interested. "I'll swear you designed that, Philippe! Now for the coat!" When Philip had at last succeeded in entering into the coat it was some ten minutes later. François stepped back, panting; Philip arranged his sword to his satisfaction. "A careless sprinkling of rubies, _hein_? One in the cravat, one here, another in my wig. And on my fingers, so!..." "Perfect!" applauded De Bergeret. "_Tonnerre de Dieu_, pink hummingbirds on your stockings!" François beamed and clasped his hands, gazing in rapt admiration at Philip's startlingly clocked legs. Philip laughed. "Do they please your artistic soul, Jules? And are they to be wasted on De Farraud? I had intended to go to the Saint-Clamond rout, where I know I shall meet Clothilde. Come with me!" De Bergeret shook his head. "I promised De Vangrisse I'd be at De Farraud's some time to-night. Forget the lovely Clothilde, Philippe. Bethink you, your so dear friend Bancroft will come to Farraud's in De Chambert's train!" Philip was fixing a long ruby ear-ring in his right ear, but he stopped suddenly, and looked over his shoulder at De Bergeret. "_Comment?_" "Why, you leap to my bait!" said De Bergeret, amused. "I thought you could not resist so great an attraction!" Philip fixed the ruby and swept round for his cloak and hat.