they gave dinner-parties."

"Yes, they received a good deal of company."

"You remember that time?"

"Surely I do."

"So that if I should take a fancy to receive some one here, some
one of note, you would know how to do things properly?"

"I think so."

He remained silent for a moment, like a man who thinks before taking
an important decision, and then:

"I wish to invite a few persons to dinner," he said. She could
scarcely believe her ears. He had never received at his table any
one but a fellow-clerk at the factory, named Desclavettes, who had
just married the daughter of a dealer in bronzes, and succeeded to
his business.

"Is it possible?" exclaimed Mme. Favoral.

"So it is. The question is now, how much would a first-class dinner
cost, the best of every thing?"

"That depends upon the number of guests."

"Say three or four persons."