“By Jove! you remind me I have letters for her,—a circumstance I had totally forgotten, though it was coupled with a commission.”
“A letter! Why, nothing was ever so fortunate. Don't lose a moment; you have just time to leave it, with your card, before dinner. You'll have an invitation for this evening at once.”
“But I have not the slightest wish.”
“No matter, I have; and you shall bring me.”
“You forget,” said I, mimicking his own words, “I am unfortunately not intimate enough.”
“As to that,” replied he, “there is a vast difference between the etiquette Rue du Bac, No. 22, three floors above the entresol, and the gorgeous salons of the Hôtel Clichy, Rue Faubourg St. Honoré; ceremony has the advantage in the former by a height of three pair of stairs, not to speak of the entresol.”
“But I don't know the people.”
“Nor I.”
“But how am I to present you?”
“Easily enough,—'Captain Duchesne, Imperial Guard;' or, if you prefer it, I 'll do the honors for you.”