M. levAkSSeue takes an ell. 277 



I reproached myself for ever having thought of dining; 

 I reproached myself for the paltry regret I had felt at not 

 being able to partake of that gibelotie, whose provoking odour 

 had so tempted me. 



I exchanged my letter with Magdeleine; after the play 

 they walked home, and I followed them at a distance. 



How I should have gloried in their being attacked, that 

 I might have had an opportunity of defending them ! how 

 I racked my memory for all the histories of thieves that I had 

 read, and how little doubt did I entertain of the certainty of 

 my victory, whatever might be the number of my assailants ! 



The following Friday I was less fortunate ; I possessed no 

 more than just my twenty sous. I made up my mind not to 

 leave Lavasseur's house till after dinner. But although I had 

 hinted in the morning I should go out in the evening, I per- 

 ceived that the servant, in laying the cloth, neglected to place 

 my knife and fork, conformably with the orders she had 

 received. I had no dinner that day. I had no money to 

 enable me to repeat my excellent repast under the plum-trees. 

 In the evening I returned home, rich in a letter from Mag- 

 deleine, but with a sad empty stomach ! 



At length there came a Eriday on which I was very un- 

 easy. Madame Levasseur began by inflicting a good scold- 

 ing upon the poor servant, and then sent her off, early in the 

 morning, to her dressmakers, to insist upon having her new 

 dress home before evening. M. Levasseur was fresh shaved, 

 although he had gone through that operation only the even- 

 ing before, and it was his custom to shave every other day. 



I foresaw a storm, and I wished to avert it by making a 

 concession. I addressed M. Levasseur, and offered to give up 

 all the other evenings of the week, provided I were at hberty 

 on Friday^. 



He answered me, with a little hesitation, that he would see 

 about it, and went to confer with his wife. After a short 

 matrimonial discussion, he came back to me and said, " You 

 can go out next Friday, but to-day " — 



" To-day," I replied, " it is indispensable that I should go 

 out to-day." 



" You must, however, dispense with it, for the house can- 

 not be left alone, and we are going to the theatre." 



