"A surprise he has arranged for me," said Zizi; "I haven't any idea what it is, but I like to think that it will be superb!"
"Monsieur, there's a man here with a pie."
"Ah! very good! bravo! show him in."
"What! is your surprise a pie?" cried the young woman; "why, that is perfectly ridiculous. I don't like pie at dinner!"
"This one, my dear love, is not like most pies.—Come, Beauvinet, come in!"
The old young man from the lodging house appeared, bringing a very handsome pie, which he held as if it were the keys of a conquered town; he placed it on the table, looked about at everybody with a self-satisfied expression; then pulled his wig over his left ear.
Everybody looked at the pie, which had an inviting aspect. Saint-Arthur seemed overjoyed; he jumped up and down on his chair, exclaiming:
"Ah! I should say that that is the thing!"
"It is a very handsome pie," said Jéricourt. "Where did it come from? Strasbourg?"