"I am thankful to say," exclaimed one of the young men, "that the Carnival is nearly over."
"Fernando is right," said one of the two others. "We have been out now for two hours, and we have not had the smallest adventure."
"Pshaw!" answered the third youth, who was called Arthur by his friends, "we have a long evening before us, and it would be odd if we did not find some excitement and could not create a little scandal!"
Of these three young men one was named Arthur de Montferrand; his father had made himself a name in the Chamber of Peers by defending the assassins of Marshal Brune; the other, Gaston de Ferrette, was a great duelist, although not more than twenty-four, and belonged to the best blood in France.
The third was less known in Paris. He was an Italian who was traveling in France. His name was Fernando de Vellebri. He came with letters from princes and ambassadors, which opened to him the first hôtels in the Faubourg. This was the time when the word "dandy" began to be used, and these three aspired to the title.
"Where is Frederic?" said one. "Would he fail us now?"
"Of course not. Besides, he wrote to me to say that he was to go with Mademoiselle de Salves to witness some ceremony at Notre Dame!"
"Poor Frederic!"
"He is not so much to be pitied, if you please, for Mademoiselle de Salves is a most charming person."
"But does he love her? That is the question."