Having thus rid himself of the widower, young Edmond thought of nothing but finding his last mistress, with whom he was still in love, probably because she had ceased to run after him. Only that morning he had seen Amélia, and they had been on the best possible terms; so that if she avoided him now, it could only be because Freluchon had refused her friend Henriette the money she asked him to lend her.
Why should she espouse Henriette's quarrel? Still, as she lived with her friend, when the latter was obliged to quit her domicile, Mademoiselle Amélia also was turned into the street.
Edmond said all this to himself as he glided through the crowd, running after every woman he saw in a débardeur's costume. He caught one by the arm, but saw that she was not the person he sought, just as she said to him:
"If you'll treat me to supper, I'll stay with you—if not—no, thanks!"
"I would gladly invite you to supper, if I were not looking for someone, whom I took you for at first; but as I hope to find her, I shall sup with her."
"Bah! let her go! She'll sup with three other men perhaps; don't run after her. You're good-looking, I like you; come, dance with me."
"I am sorry to refuse you, but I don't want to dance now; later, I don't say that——"
"Oh, yes! with the other; good-night, little donkey!"
The little débardeur ran away from Edmond, to join the dance; and almost at the same moment the young man's arm was taken by a little blue domino, who said to him:
"She's not the one you are looking for; whom are you looking for, Edmond Didier?"