adame Pipelet, in
confirmation of her husband's words; adding, as she displayed her
forbidding countenance over her husband's shoulder, "and I wonder very
much where that old dunderhead has come from to ask such a stupid
question?"

"I beg your pardon, madame," said the guileless-looking individual thus
addressed, again withdrawing another step to escape the concentrated
anger of the enraged pair; "placards are made to be read,--you put out a
board, which I read,--now allow me to say that I am not to blame for
perusing what you set up purposely to attract attention, but that you
are decidedly wrong to insult me so grossly when I civilly come to you,
as your own board desires, for information."

"Oh, you old fool! Get along with you!" exclaimed Anastasie, with a most
hideous distortion of visage.

"You are a rude, unmannerly woman!"

"Alfred, deary, just fetch me your boot-jack: I'll give that old
chatterer such a mark that his own mother shall not know her darling
again!"

"Really, madame, I can't say I understand receiving such rough treatment
when I come, by your own directions, to make inquiries respecting what
you or your husband have publicly notified in the streets."

"But, sir-r-r--!" cried the unhappy porter.

"Sir!" interrupted the hitherto placid inquirer, now worked up into
extreme rage, "Sir! You may carry your friendship with your M. Cabrion
as far as you please, but, give me leave to tell you, you have no
business to parade yourself or your friendships in the face of everybody
in the streets. And I think it right, sir, to let you know a bit of my
mind; which is, that you are a boasting braggart, and that I shall go at
once and lay a formal complaint against you at the police office."
Saying which, the individual departed in an apparently towering passion.

"Anastasie," moaned out poor Pipelet, in a dolorous voice, "I shall
never survive all this! I feel but too surely that I am struck with
death,--I have not a hope of escape! You hear my name is publicly
exposed in the open streets, in company with that scoundrel's! He has
dared to placard the hideous tale of my having entered into a treaty of
friendship with him! And the innocent, unsuspecting public will read the
hateful statement--remember it--repeat it--spread the detestable report!
Oh, monstrous, enormous, devilish invention! None but a fiend could have
had such a thought. But there must be an end to this. The measure is
full,--ay, to overfl