Part 25 (2/2)
”That is quite possible; you are so infernally imprudent! When you arrange such a party as this, you should take a cab, and enter the restaurant by the rear door.”
”That's so; you are right; we ought to have come in from behind! but I promise you that I'll go out that way.”
”He thought at first that I was in your confidence, that I was here solely to help you. In fact, I am exposing myself to some risk in your behalf.”
”Ah! my dear Dorsan! never while I live shall I forget what I owe to you!”
”However, things are beginning to calm down. Agathe has succeeded in making him listen to reason; she told him that she came here for no other purpose than to watch him; she's playing the jealous lover now.”
”Oh! that's delicious! charming! these women always find a way out of everything!”
”I should prefer to let them dine alone; but he won't listen to it. I left the room on the pretext of ordering dinner.”
”It's all ordered, my dear friend; and I shall take good care to pay for it. I don't mean to put you to any expense, when you are sacrificing yourself to help me.”
”As you please; I'll give the word to the waitress, and we will dine.”
”Go, my n.o.ble-hearted friend; tell her to be sure not to mention me.”
”Never fear.”
”I have but one fear now.”
”What's that?”
”Just now, with the idea of giving Agathe a surprise, I amused myself, while her back was turned, by slipping my picture into her reticule.”
”Your picture?”
”Yes; I mean one of my silhouettes, you know, which I had pasted on a pink card, with a border of little cupids. If Agathe should happen to drop that when she takes out her handkerchief; or, not knowing what it is, should take it into her head to look at it----”
”Peste! that would make a pretty row! Gerville would surely say then that I was in collusion with you to deceive him.”
”Try, my friend, try to prevent Agathe from blowing her nose!”
”I can't promise that, but I'll motion to her to blow it in her napkin; that cannot compromise you.”
”That's the very thing.”
”Adieu! a longer absence might arouse suspicion.”
Once more I left Raymond, who locked himself into his room. I returned to Agathe. The waitress arrived with the dinner; she seemed surprised at the change of cavalier, but two or three words in her ear and a five-franc piece in her hand speedily retained her in our interest. She promised to tell the stout gentleman that there were three in our party, and thereupon she left us, overjoyed to be able to amuse herself at the expense of the man who had upset a tureen of soup on her feet.
”Now, let us dine,” said I, taking my seat at the table beside Agathe; ”no one can deny that we have earned it. I hardly expected to dine with you, I admit.”
”Nor I! but impromptu pleasures are always the best.”
”A month ago we had already become reasonable and sedate in our tete-a-tetes.”
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