It would have been so nice to be by themselves on a day like to-day.

But the great man snapped his fingers at the thought.

He had enough to do to unload his pockets.

First of all, he produced a superb pie "for the ladies," he said, forgetting that he adored pie.

A lobster next made its appearance, then an Arles sausage, marrons glaces and cherries, the first of the season! While the financier enthusiastically pulled up the collar of his invisible shirt, while the comique exclaimed "gnouf! gnouf!" with a gesture forgotten by Parisians for ten years, Desiree thought with dismay of the enormous hole that impromptu banquet would make in the paltry earnings of the week, and Mamma Delobelle, full of business, upset the whole buffet in order to find a sufficient number of plates.
It was a very lively meal.