And Pigeonnier ran out of the room, overtook the waiter in the hall, and said to him:
"Don't bring any biscuits or macaroons or cakes with the ices; madame doesn't like any of those things; nothing but ices, you understand."
"We always serve them with ices," replied the waiter, with an offended air; "but you're not obliged to eat them."
"Yes; but I tell you it isn't worth while to serve them."
"Very well, monsieur."
The corpulent young man danced back to the room in which he had left his charge, who had removed her hat and shawl.
"Excellent," said Tobie to himself; "she is making herself at home; she made no fuss about coming to a private room, so I conclude that the affair will go of itself."
"What can we see from here, I wonder?" said Madame Plays, walking to the window.
"Oh! nothing attractive," said Tobie, who preferred that the window should remain closed. "We are right above those travelling showmen, who have set up their booth close to the house, and exhibit bears and panthers and other monsters, I believe. If I were the proprietor of this restaurant, it seems to me that I wouldn't have them so near."
"Why not?" said his fair companion, with a smile; "everybody must live, must they not?"