The invitations will be sent out by Mesdames Laloigue, Remontel, and Rissolin, wives of the senators bearing these names, and by Mesdames Laroche-Mathieu, Percerol, and Firmin, wives of the well-known deputies. A collection will take place during the interval, and the amount will at once be placed in the hands of the mayor of the Sixth Arrondissement, or of his representative.”
It was a gigantic advertisement that the clever journalist had devised to his own advantage.
Jacques Rival received all-comers in the hall of his dwelling, where a refreshment buffet had been fitted up, the cost of which was to be deducted from the receipts. He indicated with an amiable gesture the little staircase leading to the cellar, saying: “Downstairs, ladies, downstairs; the assault will take place in the basement.”
He darted forward to meet the wife of the manager, and then shaking Du Roy by the hand, said: “How are you, Pretty-boy?”
His friend was surprised, and exclaimed: “Who told you that—”
Rival interrupted him with: “Madame Walter, here, who thinks the nickname a very nice one.”
Madame Walter blushed, saying: “Yes, I will admit that, if I knew you better, I would do like little Laurine and call you Pretty-boy, too. The name suits you very well.”
Du Roy laughed, as he replied: “But I beg of you, madame, to do so.”
She had lowered her eyes, and remarked: “No. We are not sufficiently intimate.”
He murmured: “Will you allow me the hope that we shall be more so?”
“Well, we will see then,” said she.