allied him on his recovery from his
sorrow, but Louis only said mournfully that he was driven by fate,
dragged against his will.

"I am quite sure," he said, "that it would be better for me not to go,
but nevertheless I am going."

Louis was too pre-occupied to talk when we met at the masked ball, and
he suddenly left me for a lady carrying violets. Later he rejoined me,
and together we set off to supper at three o'clock in the morning. It
was my friend D----'s supper party, and he had included Louis in the
invitation.

We found our friends waiting supper, and D---- announced that the only
person who had not arrived was Chateau-Renard. It seemed there was a
wager on that M. de Chateau-Renard would not arrive with a certain lady
whom he had undertaken to bring to supper.

Louis, who was as pale as death, implored D---- not to mention the
lady's name, and our host acceded to the request.

"Only as her husband is at Smyrna, or in India or Mexico or somewhere,
and in such a case it's the same as if the lady wasn't married," D----
observed.

"I assure you her husband is coming back soon, and he is such a good
fellow he would be horribly mortified to hear his wife had done anything
silly in his absence."

Chateau-Renard had till four o'clock to save his bet. At five minutes to
four he had not arrived, and Louis smiled at me over his wine. At that
very moment the bell rang. D---- went to the door, and we could hear
some argument going on in the hall.

Then a lady entered with obvious reluctance, escorted by D---- and
Chateau-Renard.

"It's not yet four," said Chateau-Renard to D----.

"Quite right, my boy," the other answered. "You've won your bet."

"No, hardly yet, sir," said the unknown lady. "Now I know why you were
so persistent. You have wagered to bring me here to supper, and I
supposed you were taking me to sup with one of my own friends."

Both Chateau-Renard and D---- besought the lady to stay, but the fair
unknown, after expressing her thanks to D---- for his welcome, turned to
M. Louis de Franchi, and asked him to escort her home. Louis at once
sprang forward.

Chateau-Renard, furious, insisted that he would know whom to hold
accountable.

"If I am the person meant," said Louis, with great dignity, "you will
find me at home at 7, Rue du Helder all day to-morrow."

Louis departed with his fair companion, and though Chateau-Renard was
ostentatiously cheerful, the end of the supper-party was not at