"Adieu, Monsieur de Valnoir! our interview has been very long, and I have nothing further to ask you."
"Shall I see you soon?"
"I think so; however, I will write, as before, when I have anything to ask you. I do not need to remind you that Albert must not know that you have seen me."
Célestin smiled and bowed, and stepped forward to take the fair American's hand; but she had already vanished.
"A strange woman!" muttered Célestin, looking around the room in surprise. "Gad! I have known a great many of them, but never one whose heart was so difficult to decipher as hers. Never mind; she is very beautiful, very refined, very fashionable, and it will be delicious to whisk her away from my dear friend Albert."
Célestin left the lovely widow's abode, and repaired to the boulevard, where he met Mouillot, who ran up to him, crying:
"Victory! he is ours! we have him, or at least we shall have him this evening!"
"Whom are you talking about?"
"Parbleu! little Tobie, the man of the fetich."
"The deuce! who found him?"