‘How can you find any pleasure in such society, Gustav?’
‘Pleasure you call it!—delight is the word. I shall hear all the gossip of the Basse Ville—quite as amusing, I ‘m certain, as of the Place and the Boulevards. Besides, there are to be some half-dozen échevins, with wives and daughters, and we shall have a round game for the most patriarchal stakes. I have also obtained permission to bring a friend; so you see, Monsieur O’Leary——’
‘I ‘m certain,’ interposed madame, ‘he has much better taste than to avail himself of your offer.’
‘I ‘ll bet my life on it he ‘ll not refuse.’
‘I say he will,’ said the lady.
‘I ‘ll wager that pearl ring at Mertan’s that if you leave him to himself he says “Yes.”’
‘Agreed,’ said madame; ‘I accept the bet. We Poles are as great gamblers as yourselves, you see,’ added she, turning to me. ‘Now, monsieur, decide the question. Will you dine with Van Hottentot on Tuesday next—or with me?’
The last three words were spoken in so low a tone as made me actually suspect that my imagination alone had conceived them.
‘Well,’ cried the count, ‘what say you?’
‘I pronounce for the—Hôtel de. France,’ said I, fearing in what words to accept the invitation of the lady.