It was the friend and escort of the pretty Mask. Thus suddenly brought together again, each in turn ran quickly over the incidents of the night.
"I am worn out with fatigue, and bored to death," said the lady who had just arrived upon the scene. "For pity's sake, let us go home."
"With all my heart. There is nothing to keep me here any longer."
"What, so soon?" exclaimed Léon. "At least, you will not forbid me to accompany you to your carriage?"
This favor was granted, and the pair followed the others out of the hall.
"Be merciful," said Léon, "and finish the charming sentence you had begun when we were so annoyingly interrupted. We were talking of meeting again. But when? Where? And how? Think that in a minute more I shall have lost everything but the remembrance of you. Will you not leave me a little hope?"
"Ah, then he has got over his fit of temper?"
"Do not play with me now. I am about to lose you. How shall I be able to—"
"Well, there is just the possibility that I may come to the Mi-Carême ball here."
"Three weeks to wait! Ye gods, three centuries!"