Volume I Part 42 (2/2)
At that moment the doorbell rang and shortly after, Edmond Didier entered the office.
”My dear Monsieur Chamoureau,” he said, ”I understand that you have been to my room several times to see me; I have come to find out what you had to say to me and in what way I can be of service to you?”
Chamoureau was stupefied when he saw Edmond; he recovered himself, however, and composed his features.
”Ah! good morning, Monsieur Edmond; I am very glad to see you; it gives me great pleasure. You are well, I hope?”
”Very well. But I fancy that it wasn't to inquire for my health that you came to see me three times in one day?”
”No, of course not, although I take great interest in it. But Freluchon--have you seen Freluchon lately?”
”He started for Rouen and may have gone as far as Havre, to treat his little Pompadour to fresh oysters; for you know that his taking her to Normandie was the result of a bet that his latest conquest won at that supper of ours, by smoking through her nose.”
”I know--or, rather, I don't know--for you must remember that I dozed a little toward the end of the supper.”
”Ah, yes! that is true; I had forgotten.”
”And that little woman in the Pompadour costume smokes through her nose, does she?”
”That is to say, she holds the cigar in her mouth, like everybody else, but she discharges the smoke through her nostrils; which is rather strong for a woman.”
”It is, indeed; I wouldn't do it myself, although I smoke a little. How accomplished women are in this age! If this goes on, I should not be surprised to see them chewing tobacco in time.”
”Oh! Monsieur Chamoureau, what are you saying!”
”Bless me! I keep track of the progress of mankind. In the old days, ladies wouldn't allow smoking in their presence; to-day they smoke themselves. From that to chewing tobacco in the shape of pastilles of mint or cachou isn't a very long road to travel.”
”Well, let us come to what you had to say to me. I am in more or less of a hurry. It's a fine day, and I promised Amelia to take her to the Bois this morning. We may go as far as Ville d'Avray.”
”Amelia! what? the young flower-maker who was at the supper, dressed as a _debardeur_?”
”Herself; I have made up with her; she is amusing and quite bright; on the whole, I like her very well.”
”You really like her, eh? And you have no other mistress?”
”Faith, no! not for the moment, at all events.”
”Dear Monsieur Edmond! You see, I have been told that you adored a magnificent brunette--a tall, handsome woman, with a fine figure----”
”Ah! you mean Thelenie.”
Chamoureau changed color as he stammered:
”Yes, that's the name--Thelenie; that's the name I heard; or Madame--Madame----”
”Sainte-Suzanne?”
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