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“Very well, mon cher, you have won.”

“Not yet, sir,” said the unknown lady, speaking to Château-Renaud, and
raising herself to her full height. “I understand, now, why you persisted; you
have made a bet to bring me here to supper, have you not?”

Château-Renaud remained silent. She then addressed herself to D.

“As this man will not reply, will you please to answer me, sir? Has not
Monsieur Château-Renaud made a bet to bring me here to take supper with you?”

“I cannot deny, madame, that Monsieur Château-Renaud has flattered me with
that hope.”

“Well, Monsieur Château-Renaud has lost then, for I was not aware of the
place to which he was conducting me, and thought I was going to take supper with
a lady, one of my friends. Now, as I did not come here willingly, it seems to me
that Monsieur de Château-Renaud ought to lose the benefit of his bet.”

“But now that you are here, my dear Emily, replied Monsieur de
Château-Renaud, you’ll stay, wont you? You see we have good company in these
gentlemen, and you will have merry companions in these ladies.”

“Now that I am here,” said the inconnue,” I thank the gentleman who seems to
be the master of the house for the kind reception he has been pleased to give
me; but, as unfortunately I cannot accept this polite invitation, I shall
request M. Louis de Franchi to give me his arm and see me home.”

Louis de Franchi sprung up, and in an instant placed himself between M. de
Château-Renaud and the inconnue.

“I wish you to observe, madame,” said the latter, clenching his teeth with
anger, “that it is I who brought you here; consequently, it is my duty to see
you home.”

“Gentlemen,” said the inconnue, “you are five here, and I put myself under
the guard of your honor. You will, I hope, prevent Mons. de Château-Renaud from
using any violence upon me.”

Château-Renaud made a movement, we all rose at once.

“Very well, madame,” said he, “you are at liberty to act as you please. I
know whom I shall have to thank for this.”

“If it is me you mean, sir,” said Louis de Franchi, with an air of
haughtiness impossible to describe, “you will find me all day to-morrow at No.
7, Rue du Helder.”

“Very well, sir, perhaps I shall not have the honor of calling on you in
person, but I hope you will be kind enough to receive two of my friends in my
place.”

“There was nothing else wanting in you, sir,” said Louis de Franchi,
shrugging his shoulders, “but to give such a rendezvous before a lady. Come,
madame,” continued he, taking the arm of the inconnue, ” and believe me, I thank
you sincerely for the honor you do me.”

They both went out, amid a profound silence.

“Well, what now, gentlemen?” began Château-Renaud, as soon as the door
closed; “I have lost my bet, that’s all. The day after to-morrow evening we—all
who are here, will meet at the Frères-Provençaux.”

He sat down in one of the empty seats, and reached his glass over to
Dujarrier, who filled it up to the brim.

Meanwhile, in spite of the noisy gaiety of M. de Château-Renaud, the
remainder of the supper passed off rather dull,

The following morning, or rather the same day, I found myself at ten o’clock
in the morning, at the door of Louis de Franchi’s residence,

As I ascended the steps, I met two gentlemen coming down. One of them was
evidently a man of the world. The other one, decorated with the Legion
d’Honneur, appeared, notwithstanding his citizen’s dress, to be a military man.
I had no doubt that these gentlemen came from Monsieur de Franchi; I followed
them with my eyes to the foot of the stairs, and then continued my way and rung
the bell.

The servant opened the door. His master was in his cabinet.

When he entered to announce me, Louis, who was occupied in writing a note,
turned his head.

“Ah! is that you!” said he, crushing the note in his hand and throwing it
into the fire,” this note was addressed to you, and I was just going to send it.
Very well,—Joseph, I am not at home to any body this morning.”