ociety of small trades-people and minor professionals, than
was M. Lenoir with his _grand air_ and his orange-colored ribbon.

"It's the same man," said Mueller; "the same, beyond a doubt. The more I
look at him, the more confident I am."

"And the more I look at him," said I, "the more doubtful I get."

Madame Marotte, meanwhile, had introduced M. Lenoir to the two
Conservatoire pupils and their mammas; Monsieur Dorinet had proposed
some "_petits jeux_;" and Monsieur Philomene was helping him to
re-arrange the chairs--this time in a circle.

"Take your places, Messieurs et Mesdames--take your places!" cried
Monsieur Dorinet, who had by this time resumed his wig, singed as it
was, and shorn of its fair proportions. "What game shall we play at?"

"_Pied de Boeuf_" "_Colin Maillard_" and other games were successively
proposed and rejected.

"We have a game in Alsace called 'My Aunt's Flower Garden'" said Mueller.
"Does any one know it?"

"'My Aunt's Flower Garden?'" repeated Monsieur Dorinet. "I never heard
of it."

"It sounds pretty," said Mdlle. Rosalie.

"Will M'sieur teach it to us, if it is not very difficult?" suggested
Mdlle. Rosalie's mamma.

"With pleasure, Madame. It is not a bad game--and it is extremely easy.
We will sit in a circle, if you please--the chairs as they are placed
will do quite well."

We were just about to take our places when Madame Marotte seized the
opportunity to introduce Mueller and myself to M. Lenoir.

"We have met before, Monsieur," said Mueller, pointedly.

"I am ashamed to confess, Monsieur, that I do not remember to have had
that pleasure," replied M. Lenoir, somewhat stiffly.

"And yet, Monsieur, it was but the other day," persisted Mueller.

"Monsieur, I can but reiterate my regret."

"At the Cafe Procope."

M. Lenoir stared coldly, slightly shrugged his shoulders, and said,
with the air of one who repudiates a discreditable charge:--

"Monsieur, I do not frequent the Cafe Procope."

"If Monsieur Mueller is to teach us the game, Monsieur Mueller must begin
it!" said Monsieur Dorinet.

"At once," replied Mueller, taking his place in the circle.

As ill-luck would have it (the rest of us being already seated), there
were but two chairs left; so that M. Lenoir and Mueller had to sit
side by side.

"I begin with my left-hand neighbor," said Mueller, addressing himself
with a bow to Mdlle. Rosalie; "and the circle will please to repeat
after me:--'I have the