I went up myself, and fretted and fumed like all young men awaiting their first a.s.signation, like all young women whose mammas keep them in the house when they are burning to go out. An hour pa.s.sed, and no one came. Another hour had nearly elapsed, and I was on the point of going back to the shop, when my doorbell rang. I reached the door with one bound and threw it open; there stood Monsieur Raymond, laden with an enormous pasteboard box.

"What do you want, Monsieur Raymond?"

"My respects to you, neighbor!"

"But what brings you to my door, pray?"

"I will explain. Allow me to come in and put down this box."

And, without awaiting my reply, he entered my reception room and seated himself on a chair. I remained standing in front of him, hoping that that would make him cut his visit short.

"Excuse me if I make myself at home; but my back is still painful. That wall was devilish high."

"What do you want of me? I beg you to tell me, for I am in a great hurry."

"Here goes: in the first place, I wanted to make my peace with you, because neighbors ought not to quarrel."

"Bless my soul! I have no desire to quarrel."

"I'm very glad of that; then that's all at an end. I was on the watch for an opportunity to come here to speak to you; the opportunity came, and I grasped it. Somebody rang at my door just now and asked for you."

"What's that? just now? Who was it?"

"A girl--very pretty, too; but not so pretty as the one the other night."

"A girl! what did she want? pray go on!"

"She brought this box for you, and said there was no message."

"Well! where is she? what did you say?"

"I took charge of the box, telling her that you had gone out, so that I might have the pleasure of delivering it myself and making my peace with you."

"Great G.o.d! is it possible? Must you always meddle in other people's business, just to drive me mad? I'll stake my head it was she!"

I opened the box, while Raymond stared at me in amazement; he did not know which way to turn, seeing the gleam of anger in my eyes when he expected thanks. I found all the flowers I had bought, and, in my rage, I kicked the box away. The bouquets and tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs flew through the air, and a garland _a la jardiniere_ lighted on Raymond's brow; he dared not remove it, because my outburst of wrath had stupefied him.

After storming about and crumpling and mutilating my flowers, I threw myself into a chair and my eyes fell upon my neighbor. At that sight my anger vanished; it was impossible for me to keep a serious face when I saw Raymond crowned with paper flowers and glancing about him in terror.

I roared with laughter; that rea.s.sured him, and he followed my example, but his laughter was of that forced variety which resembles a grimace, and not that inextinguishable merriment in which the G.o.ds indulge when Vulcan fills their gla.s.ses.

"Vulcan to find involved in this debate, The gentle reader'd scarce antic.i.p.ate."

"Well," said Monsieur Raymond at last, still trying to smile, "your angry fit seems to have pa.s.sed over?"

"I must make the best of it."

"Aren't you satisfied with the goods they sent you?"

"Much I care for the goods, Monsieur Raymond! you will compel me to move."

"I, neighbor? Why so, pray?"

"Because you seem to be stationed beside me here to thwart all my plans, to drive me mad with rage!"

"I don't understand."

"Why, in heaven's name, when people ring at your door by mistake, don't you send them to me? Why do you say that I'm not at home when I am? Why did you undertake to deliver this box, when I desired to speak to the person who brought it?"

"My dear neighbor, I am distressed--I was entirely ignorant----"

"I beg you, Monsieur Raymond, as a favor, not to meddle in my affairs any more, or we shall have a serious falling-out! You have quite enough other occupation in the house, listening to the gossip of the cooks, keeping an eye on the women, playing the spy on the girls, and mixing yourself up in family rows, without disturbing yourself concerning my conduct."

"I a.s.sure you, neighbor, that someone has been slandering me to you. I am incapable--I love a jest, that's the whole of it; but I never gossip.

In the first place, I am not talkative. If I were, I might tell you that the lady on the first floor has two lovers; that her husband keeps a mistress; that Monsieur Gerard, on the second, is in a bad way in business, and that I've seen summonses for him in the concierge's hands; that Madame Bertin gives evening parties in order to get husbands for her daughters; that her cook makes a handsome commission on her provisions; that the cook at the rear of the courtyard has a lover she carries soup to; that Gerville the government clerk is running into debt and doesn't answer the bell when his creditors ring; and a thousand other things. But it's none of my business; I have quite enough to do to attend to my own affairs, without bothering my head about other people's. I took this box, thinking that I was doing you a favor, and because I wanted an opportunity to make myself useful to you. It made you angry, and I won't do it again. After this, I'll send away people who want to speak to you, even when you're not in. I salute you, neighbor!"

"By the way, one other word, if you please. What sort of looking girl was it who brought the box?"

"Why, very good-looking--that is to say, attractive."

"How tall?"

"Medium."

"Dark hair?"

"Yes; dark or chestnut-colored."

"Black eyes?"

"Yes; that is to say, dark gray."

"Ah! it was she!"

"Who is she?"

"That doesn't concern you, Monsieur Raymond."

"True; I asked the question inadvertently. Adieu!--By the way, are you going to Madame Vauvert's to-night? There's to be a grand party, a concert, and perhaps dancing. I fancy there'll be lots of people there.

I am going to sing the aria from _Joconde_. Monsieur Vauvert sent me word that he should have a young woman who plays finely on the guitar, and a gentleman who sings in Italian like a Bouffon."

"A most alluring prospect."

"I believe Madame Bertin is going, with her young ladies. The younger one is studying a piece that she's to play on the piano. But time flies, and I have a lot of errands to do.--Au revoir, neighbor! I promised Vauvert to bring him a 'cello and a second violin to complete his quartette. I must go and drum up my performers."

He went away at last. The infernal fellow was responsible for my failure to see Caroline; for I had no doubt that it was she who had brought my box. What was I to do next? If I went again to the shop, what should I say? I had no idea; but I did not propose to have my rooms filled with artificial flowers to no purpose. I returned to Rue Sainte-Apolline.

The proprietor was out; so much the better. I complained and stormed because my flowers had not been sent. A girl rose and declared that she had left them at my rooms. It was not Caroline; therefore, it was not she who had come. I became calmer and shifted the blame onto my neighbor's shoulders. The forewoman scolded the girl. I bought some more wreaths, pretending that I had forgotten to buy them on my first visit; and I asked to have them sent with me. This time Caroline was selected to be the messenger. At last I was to have an opportunity to speak to her freely, to be alone with her!

"One moment!" I said to myself; "I haven't reached that point yet; I must not be too sure beforehand; one is so often disappointed!"