"It is impossible, monsieur. Madame has the vapors; she cannot receive you."
"She can't receive me—me?"
"You, monsieur."
"But she never used to have the vapors for me."
"Dame! monsieur, she has them now."
"Very well; I understand, Lisa; this means that your mistress doesn't choose to receive me, and so she has given these orders."
The maid dared not admit that that was the truth; but she smiled, and put her finger to her lips. Albert was too well-bred to disregard such an order; he too laughed as his eye met the lady's-maid's, and he turned on his heel, saying with a tragicomic air:
"I have deserved my fate, and must submit to it."
But as he was about to leave the courtyard, he paused.
"Suppose I pay the husband a visit?" he said to himself. "Parbleu! I'll do it; he's just the boy to reconcile his wife and me, or at least to be of great service to me in this emergency. Let's see dear Monsieur Plays."