“You don’t call a man who tries to lay aside a few francs for a rainy day, stingy—do you?”
Presently he was fully dressed and he dashed out of the house, the happiest of mortals. He ran down the three flights of steps like a little boy speeding to join his waiting playmates. And he kept running thru the streets, seeing no one until he reached the jewelry shop.
He was soon back, with flushed face and panting, a nice little box in his breast pocket. Marguerite was addressing the parrot when Albert opened the door. She was telling the parrot that Albert was a great poète allemand and the sweetest lover in the world, even though he was stingy at times. And the parrot laughed—“Ha—ha! Ha—ha! Ha—ha!”
“Close your eyes, my sweet monkey,” Albert commanded.
“You did not spend any money on a present for me, you extravagant boy!”
“Close your eyes and keep them closed until I count three!”
He kissed her and closed her eyes with the tips of his fingers.
“One—two—three!”
She opened her eyes upon a pair of sparkling earrings.
“Albert! You spendthrift!”