sharply round and found himself face to face with a young
man who had completed an order he was giving to the coachman.

"Ah, is that you?" said he.

"Yes, Chantemille is the name of the estate that I intend to settle on
madame."

The painter examined the personage who had just addressed him with
much curiosity. He was dressed in the height or rather the burlesque of
fashion, wore an eyeglass, and an enormous locket on his chain. The face
which surmounted all this grandeur was almost that of a monkey, and
Toto Chupin had not exaggerated its ugliness when he likened it to that
animal.

"Pooh," cried Rose, "what matters a name? All you have to do is to ask
this gentleman, who is an old friend of mine, to dinner." And without
waiting for a reply, she took Andre by the hand and led him into a
brilliantly lighted hall. "You must dine with us," she exclaimed; "I
will take no denial. Come, let me introduce you, M. Andre, M. Gaston de
Gandelu. There, that is all settled."

The man bowed.

"Andre, Andre," repeated Gandelu; "why, the name is familiar to me,--and
so is the face. Have I not met you at my father's house? Come in; we
intend to have a jovial evening."

"I really cannot," pleaded Andre. "I have an engagement."

"Throw it over then; we intend to keep you, now that we have got you."

Andre hesitated for a moment, but he felt dispirited, and that he
required rousing. "After all," thought he, "why should I refuse? If this
young man's friends are like himself, the evening will be an amusing
one."

"Come up," cried Rose, placing her foot upon the stairs. Andre was about
to follow her, but was held back by Gandelu, whose face was radiant with
delight.

"Was there ever such a girl?" whispered he; "but there, don't jump at
conclusions. I have only had her in hand for a short time, but I am a
real dab at starting a woman grandly, and it would be hard to find my
equal in Paris, you may bet."

"That can be seen at a glance," answered Andre, concealing a smile.

"Well, look here, I began at once. Zora is a quaint name, is it not?
It was my invention. She isn't a right down swell to-day, but I have
ordered six dresses for her from Van Klopen; such swell gets up! You
know Van Klopen, don't you, the best man-milliner in Paris. Such taste!
such ideas! you never saw the like."

Rose had by this time reached her drawing-room. "Andre," said she,
impatiently, "are you never coming up?"

"Quick, quick," said Gandelu, "le