When her maid announced Tobie, she started.
"Tobie!" she exclaimed. "Oh! yes, to be sure! I had forgotten all about him. Let Tobie come in; let him come in at once!"
The maid ushered the young man into the room, and retired. When he entered the boudoir, Pigeonnier deemed it fitting to assume an air at once tender and melancholy; so he stepped forward and saluted Madame Plays with an expression bordering on the tragic.
"It's you, is it, monsieur?" she said. "But I remember, you were my chevalier. Well! what news do you bring me?"
Tobie struck an attitude, and replied:
"It is, in very truth, as your chevalier that I present myself, madame; you ordered me to avenge your wrongs by fighting with Albert, and I have obeyed you."
"Oho! indeed! you have fought a duel with him, have you?"
"Yes, madame."
"When was that?"
"This morning, at Saint-Mandé. A thousand witnesses can inform you that I went there with Albert."