“It’s the same man,” said Mueller; “the same, beyond a doubt.  The more I look at him, the more confident I am.”

“And the more I look at him,” said I, “the more doubtful I get.”

Madame Marotte, meanwhile, had introduced M. Lenoir to the two Conservatoire pupils and their mammas; Monsieur Dorinet had proposed some “petits jeux;” and Monsieur Philomene was helping him to re-arrange the chairs—­this time in a circle.

“Take your places, Messieurs et Mesdames—­take your places!” cried Monsieur Dorinet, who had by this time resumed his wig, singed as it was, and shorn of its fair proportions.  “What game shall we play at?”

“Pied de Boeuf” “Colin Maillard” and other games were successively proposed and rejected.

“We have a game in Alsace called ‘My Aunt’s Flower Garden’” said Mueller.  “Does any one know it?”

“‘My Aunt’s Flower Garden?’” repeated Monsieur Dorinet.  “I never heard of it.”

“It sounds pretty,” said Mdlle.  Rosalie.

“Will M’sieur teach it to us, if it is not very difficult?” suggested Mdlle.  Rosalie’s mamma.

“With pleasure, Madame.  It is not a bad game—­and it is extremely easy.  We will sit in a circle, if you please—­the chairs as they are placed will do quite well.”

We were just about to take our places when Madame Marotte seized the opportunity to introduce Mueller and myself to M. Lenoir.

“We have met before, Monsieur,” said Mueller, pointedly.

“I am ashamed to confess, Monsieur, that I do not remember to have had that pleasure,” replied M. Lenoir, somewhat stiffly.

“And yet, Monsieur, it was but the other day,” persisted Mueller.

“Monsieur, I can but reiterate my regret.”

“At the Cafe Procope.”

M. Lenoir stared coldly, slightly shrugged his shoulders, and said, with the air of one who repudiates a discreditable charge:—­

“Monsieur, I do not frequent the Cafe Procope.”

“If Monsieur Mueller is to teach us the game, Monsieur Mueller must begin it!” said Monsieur Dorinet.

“At once,” replied Mueller, taking his place in the circle.

As ill-luck would have it (the rest of us being already seated), there were but two chairs left; so that M. Lenoir and Mueller had to sit side by side.

“I begin with my left-hand neighbor,” said Mueller, addressing himself with a bow to Mdlle.  Rosalie; “and the circle will please to repeat after me:—­’I have the four corners of my Aunt’s Flower Garden for sale—­

thee, and lov’d thee, and ne’er can forget._’”

MDLLE.  ROSALIE to M. PHILOMENE.—­I have the four corners of my Aunt’s
Flower Garden for sale—­

thee, and lov’d thee, and ne’er can forget._’

M. PHILOMENE to MADAME DE MONTPARNASSE.—­I have the four corners of my
Aunt’s Flower Garden, etc., etc.