Volume I Part 8 (2/2)
”This morning.”
”That's not long; so it's to be hoped that she hasn't replaced you yet.”
”I wouldn't swear to it.”
”If she is still free, and we find her, will you permit me to apply for the vacancy?”
”I permit you to do whatever you choose, absolutely.”
”Ah! you're very good, on my word! you're not like Freluchon, who will never turn his ex-mistresses over to me; and yet it seems to me that he owes me that much.--A little _debardeur_, you say? what color? what sort of head-dress?”
Edmond, who was tired of Chamoureau's company and had been trying for several minutes to devise some way of getting rid of him, suddenly exclaimed:
”Did you hear that pink domino who just pa.s.sed us?”
”No; what did she say?”
”She said to the shepherdess on her arm: 'That Spaniard yonder has turned my head. I tell you, my dear, I'd like to catch him!'”
”Really! you heard that?”
”And the shepherdess replied: 'Very well! speak to him, puzzle him.'
”'Oh! I don't dare, my dear.'”
”She said she didn't dare, eh? Well, I will dare. Where is this pink domino?”
”Look--over yonder, near the Polichinelle. Go quickly, or you'll lose her.”
Chamoureau voluntarily dropped Edmond's arm, to run after the person in a pink domino whom he had pointed out.
Having thus rid himself of the widower, young Edmond thought of nothing but finding his last mistress, with whom he was still in love, probably because she had ceased to run after him. Only that morning he had seen Amelia, and they had been on the best possible terms; so that if she avoided him now, it could only be because Freluchon had refused her friend Henriette the money she asked him to lend her.
Why should she espouse Henriette's quarrel? Still, as she lived with her friend, when the latter was obliged to quit her domicile, Mademoiselle Amelia also was turned into the street.
Edmond said all this to himself as he glided through the crowd, running after every woman he saw in a _debardeur's_ costume. He caught one by the arm, but saw that she was not the person he sought, just as she said to him:
”If you'll treat me to supper, I'll stay with you--if not--no, thanks!”
”I would gladly invite you to supper, if I were not looking for someone, whom I took you for at first; but as I hope to find her, I shall sup with her.”
”Bah! let her go! She'll sup with three other men perhaps; don't run after her. You're good-looking, I like you; come, dance with me.”
”I am sorry to refuse you, but I don't want to dance now; later, I don't say that----”
”Oh, yes! with the other; good-night, little donkey!”
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