They gave me Dumont’s chamber, which was vacant, on account of its owner having left the shop some eight days previously. The ladies undertook to arrange the bed draperies, and perform all the little offices which come so gratefully from a woman’s tender hand and kind heart. Félicién commenced by scowling at me; but when he perceived that upon Estelle, by tacit consent, fell the greater share of the labor on my account, his brow gradually relaxed.
Duplay set out for his club. They then informed me that my chamber was ready. It was the first time for four nights that I had slept in a bed, so you may imagine that I stood upon no ceremony. I made a hurried bow to all, rushed up to my room; and, on arriving there, blessed Madame Duplay for the quantity of water and towels that she had left me—as it required plenty of both to rid me of that accursed dust of Champagne, with which I seemed to be perfectly coated.
I jumped into bed, and, in a second, fell into the most profound sleep.
On the next morning, I was awakened by M. Duplay, after a most persistent shaking, which, in my sleep, I attributed to other causes.
“Ah!” said he; “when you sleep you do sleep, and no mistake, you drowsy provincials.”
“Bah!” said I. “It is you, then, who have been trying to awaken, me?”
“Yes; and who tried last night, but could not succeed.”
“What did you wish of me?”
“Citizen Réné Besson, I fancied that you would excuse the breach of hospitality, when you knew that I had something most important to tell you.”
“Well, I am all attention, M. Duplay.”