"Your name, monsieur?"
"I have already told you that I wanted to surprise him; consequently, I don't choose to send in my name."
The servant went to his master and delivered the message. Monsieur de la Bérinière had not begun to think of rising; he had taken the young widow to the Opéra the night before, and had played the attentive gallant all the evening, and he was at an age when such service is very tiresome. So he was reposing in bed from the fatigues of the night.
"That young widow is an adorable creature," he mused. "Marriage will make me settle down; I shall lead a virtuous life, and it will do me good."
He was somewhat annoyed, therefore, when his servant announced an old friend who wished to speak with him.
"Neither old friends nor new ones ought to come so early," he exclaimed. "What the devil! they ought to let people sleep in peace. What's the name of this old friend who's such an early bird?"
"He refused to send in his name, in order to surprise monsieur."
"He deserves to be turned away without seeing me."
"He was in the street last night when monsieur went into Madame Monléard's. He recognized monsieur when he stepped out of the carriage."
"Well! let us see this man of surprises."