"Those are Monsieur Rodolphe's boots. What is there to be wondered at in that?"
"And these?" asked Colline, pointing to the lady's boots. "Are they Monsieur Rodolphe's too?"
"Those are his wife's," said the porter.
"His wife's!" exclaimed Colline in a tone of stupefaction. "Ah! The voluptuary, that is why he will not open the door."
"Well," said the porter, "he is free to do as he likes about that, sir. If you will leave me your name I will let him know you called."
"No," said Colline. "Now that I know where to find him I will call again."
And he at once went off to tell the important news to his friends.
Rodolphe's patent leathers were generally considered to be a fable due to Colline's wealth of imagination, and it was unanimously declared that his mistress was a paradox.
This paradox was, however, a truism, for that very evening Marcel received a letter collectively addressed to the whole of the set. It was as follows:—
"Monsieur and Madame Rodolphe, literati, beg you to favor them with your company at dinner tomorrow evening at five o'clock sharp."