"My dear Monsieur Chamoureau," he said, "I understand that you have been to my room several times to see me; I have come to find out what you had to say to me and in what way I can be of service to you?"
Chamoureau was stupefied when he saw Edmond; he recovered himself, however, and composed his features.
"Ah! good morning, Monsieur Edmond; I am very glad to see you; it gives me great pleasure. You are well, I hope?"
"Very well. But I fancy that it wasn't to inquire for my health that you came to see me three times in one day?"
"No, of course not, although I take great interest in it. But Freluchon—have you seen Freluchon lately?"
"He started for Rouen and may have gone as far as Havre, to treat his little Pompadour to fresh oysters; for you know that his taking her to Normandie was the result of a bet that his latest conquest won at that supper of ours, by smoking through her nose."
"I know—or, rather, I don't know—for you must remember that I dozed a little toward the end of the supper."
"Ah, yes! that is true; I had forgotten."
"And that little woman in the Pompadour costume smokes through her nose, does she?"
"That is to say, she holds the cigar in her mouth, like everybody else, but she discharges the smoke through her nostrils; which is rather strong for a woman."