"You are talking nonsense now. By the way, Frontin, look out of the dining-room window and tell me if my little neighbor Georgette is at her window."
Frontin obeyed; in a moment he returned and said:
"It's very extraordinary, monsieur; all the windows are closed in Mamzelle Georgette's rooms, and usually they're all wide open!"
"Closed!" repeated Monsieur de Mardeille, with a smile. "Oh! I remember; that's what I asked her to do, yesterday; that proves that she is expecting me. Stupid of me to sleep so late!—Come, Frontin, be quick about my hair."
The servant dressed his master's hair in haste. When he had put the finishing touches to it, Monsieur de Mardeille said to him:
"Now, go to the sideboard and get some madeira, bordeaux, and champagne, which you will carry to my little neighbor, and tell her that I am at your heels. I will be at her room in five minutes."
Frontin disappeared; but he returned before his master had finished dressing; he had two bottles under his arms and the third in his hand, and his face wore a more inane expression than usual.
"How is this, imbecile? Haven't you done yet what I told you? Why don't you carry those bottles to Georgette's?" shouted Monsieur de Mardeille.
"I beg your pardon, monsieur; I've been there, but I couldn't find anyone. That's why I've come back with my bottles."
"Couldn't find anyone! She has gone out to buy something, no doubt.—Couldn't you wait on her landing a minute?"