The fourth-floor lodger bowed, and went through the usual congratulations.  In the meantime, some of the others had prepared a mock sofa by means of two chairs set somewhat wide apart, with a shawl thrown over the whole to conceal the space between.  Upon one of these chairs sat a certain young lady named Louise, and upon the other Mam’selle Josephine.  As soon as it was ready, Muller, who had been only waiting for it, affected to observe for the first time that Monsieur Bobinet was still standing.

“Mon Dieu!” he exclaimed, “has no one offered our visitor a chair?  Monsieur Bobinet, I beg a thousand pardons.  Pray do us the favor to be seated.  Your coffee will be here immediately, and these ladies on the sofa will be delighted to make room for you.”

“Oh yes, pray be seated, Monsieur Bobinet,” cried the two girls.  “We shall be charmed to make room for Monsieur Bobinet!”

More than ever confused and uncomfortable, poor Monsieur Bobinet bowed; sat down upon the treacherous space between the two chairs; went through immediately; and presented the soles of his slippers to the company in the least picturesque manner imaginable.  This involuntary performance was greeted with a shout of wild delight.

“Bravo, Monsieur Bobinet!”

“Vive Monsieur Bobinet!”

“Three cheers for Monsieur Bobinet!”

Scarlet with rage, the fourth-floor lodger sprang to his feet and made a rush to the door; but he was hemmed in immediately.  In vain he stormed; in vain he swore.  We joined hands; we called for music; we danced round him; we sang; and at last, having fairly bumped and thumped and hustled him till we were tired, pushed him out on the landing, and left him to his fate.

After this interlude, the mirth grew fast and furious. Valse succeeded valse, and galop followed galop, till the orchestra declared they could play no longer, and the gentleman with the shovel and tongs collapsed in a corner of the room and went to sleep with his head in the coal-scuttle.  Then the ballet-ladies were prevailed upon to favor us with a pas de deux; after which Mueller sang a comic song with a chorus, in which everybody joined; and then the orchestra was bribed with hot brandy-and-water, and dancing commenced again.  By this time the visitors began to drop away in twos and threes, and even the fair Josephine, to whom I had never ceased paying the most devoted attention, declared she could not stir another step.  As for Dalrymple, he had disappeared during supper, without a word of leave-taking to any one.

Matters being at this pass, I looked at my watch, and found that it was already half-past six o’clock; so, having bade good-night, or rather good-morning, to Messieurs Jules, Gustave, and Adrien, and having, with great difficulty, discovered my own coat and hat among the miscellaneous collection in the adjoining bed-room, I prepared to escort Mademoiselle Josephine to her home.