Dubourg walked away from Monsieur Durosey and once more looked about for Chambertin, when that gentleman entered the salon, crying:
"Come into the garden, everybody; we are going to set off the fireworks."
"I have a favor to ask of you," said Dubourg, walking up to him.
"After the fireworks, monsieur le baron, I shall be entirely at your service. Be good enough to go to the summer-house; I flatter myself that you will be able to see as well there as you did before; my wife will take you there."
And Chambertin hurried away, with a mischievous air, while Dubourg said to himself:
"Parbleu! it's decidedly amusing that he should send me to the summer-house with his wife."
He went into the garden and found Madame Chambertin, who remembered the last pyrotechnic display and was waiting for monsieur le baron for the second performance. Madame asked nothing better than to go again to the little summer-house, where they could see so well, and where they had such comfortable seats; which latter would be most essential, as she had urged her husband to make the display last as long as possible.
Bombs were set off, and rockets, and transparencies. But when the moment arrived for the closing piece, Monsieur Chambertin said to the company assembled in the garden:
"Turn toward the summer-house, and look at what comes next; that's where the surprise is to be."
Everybody turned in that direction, Monsieur Chambertin gave the signal, the walls of the summer-house fell away as if by magic, leaving the roof supported by four pillars, and a lighted match instantly set fire to four Bengal-lights, which had been secretly placed inside, together with a transparency on which were these words: To Baron Potoski, from his grateful friend Chambertin.