"I have told these ladies that I would not leave you until we have completed their transaction, or at least appointed a time with the notary for having the documents settled."
"But I thought that you had an appointment this morning. Just now you were in great haste to leave me in order to go to the Bois de Boulogne."
"If you have other engagements, monsieur," said Honorine to Edmond, "we should be very sorry to have you neglect them on our account."
"No, madame, no, I assure you that I have no other important engagement for to-day. I was going to drive in the Bois; but one always has time for that."
"Oh, yes!" cried Agathe; "besides, I think it will be fine all day."
And the girl smiled at Edmond, to thank him for persisting in his plan of accompanying the agent.
"But the person who is waiting for you," muttered Chamoureau, as he looked for his hat. "You told me that——"
"It's of no consequence. It's a friend of mine, an idler like myself, and it makes no difference to him whether he goes to the Bois to-day or to-morrow.—Come, are you ready? How slow you are in finding your hat!"
"You don't give me time to breathe. I can't go to see Monsieur Courtivaux in a skull-cap."
At last, thanks to Edmond, Chamoureau was ready to start. They all left the office together. The young man would have been glad to offer his hand to Agathe to escort her downstairs; but she was as light and active as a doe, and was at the bottom long before the others.