"I understand that you're an idiot, if that's the way you did my errand! I never said a word to you about taking my measure!"
"But I supposed that was necessary, monsieur. When a tailor makes you a coat, he takes your measure first."
"Enough! What did the girl say? She didn't refuse without giving any reasons, did she?"
"She thought it was strange, monsieur, that you are not married. She said: 'Oh! if your master was married, if he had a wife, that would make a difference; I'd go and measure him right away; but I don't go to see bachelors. If he chooses to come to my rooms, I will receive him.'"
"Aha! she wants me to go to her! You ought to have begun by telling me that, you clown! I understand—that flatters my young lady's vanity! These girls have so much self-esteem! She wants the whole house to know that Monsieur de Mardeille is paying court to her! Well, I don't care, after all; I will go; but I will go in the evening, because the neighbors aren't at their windows after dark."
XI
DECLARATION AND OBSTINACY
That same evening, Monsieur de Mardeille left his apartment about eight o'clock. It was quite dark, everything was quiet in the house, and he stole noiselessly downstairs and passed the concierge's lodge on tiptoe, unnoticed. Then he walked rapidly across the courtyard and went up to the entresol, where he could see a light.
"No one will see me go to the little shirtmaker's," he said to himself, "and perhaps she will be quite as well pleased to receive me after dark. That saves appearances."
He stopped at Georgette's door and knocked softly. In a moment, a sweet voice said:
"Who is there?"