"Ay. Paul de Vangrisse, Jules de Bergeret, Henri de Chatelin—oh, I can't tell you! They are all charming!"
"And the ladies?"
"Also charming. Did you ever meet Clothilde de Chaucheron, or Julie de Marcherand? Ah, voilà ce qui fait ressouvenir! I count that rondeau one of my most successful efforts. You shall hear it some time or other."
"That what?" ejaculated Tom, sitting upright in his surprise.
"A rondeau: 'To the Pearl that Trembles in her Ear.' I would you could have seen it."
"Which? The rondeau?"
"The pearl, man! The rondeau you shall most assuredly see."
"Merciful heaven!" gasped Tom. "A rondeau! Philip—poet! Sacr-ré mille petits cochons!"
"Monsieur dines at home this evening?" asked François.