“In the foyer—at one, I will be in front of the clock.”
“That is understood.”
We then shook hands and he left the house quickly. It was on the stroke of twelve.
As for me, I occupied myself all the afternoon and all the next day in those employments as a man is obliged to undertake on his return from a lengthened tour.
At half-past twelve o’clock at night I was at the rendezvous.
Louis had been waiting some time—he had been following a mask which he thought he recognized, but the lady had been lost in the crowd, and he had not been able to rejoin her.
I wished to speak of Corsica, but Louis was too absent to follow out such a grave subject of conversation. His eyes were constantly fixed on the clock, and suddenly he rushed away from my side, exclaiming:
“Ah, there is my bouquet of violets.”
He pushed through the crowd to join a woman who, evidently with a purpose, was holding a large bouquet of violets in her hand.