But a boy it seemed to be, and after a while the young man went back to his seat.
Even as he sat down, a second flower struck him more sharply in the face, and this time he darted not to the window but to the door.

He opened it quickly and looked out, but again he was too late.
"I shall catch you presently, _ma reine_!" he murmured tenderly, with intent to be heard.

And he closed the door.

But, wiser this time, he waited with his hand on the latch until he heard the rustling of a skirt, and saw the line of light at the foot of the door darkened by a shadow.
That moment he flung the door wide, and, clasping the wearer of the skirt in his arms, kissed her lips before she had time to resist.
Then he fell back as if he had been shot! For the wearer of the skirt, she whom he had kissed, was Madame St.Lo's woman, and behind her stood Madame herself, laughing, laughing, laughing with all the gay abandonment of her light little heart.
"Oh, the gallant gentleman!" she cried, and clapped her hands effusively.
"Was ever recovery so rapid?
Or triumph so speedy?
Suzanne, my child; you surpass Venus.

Your charms conquer before they are seen!" M.de Tignonville had put poor Suzanne from him as if she burned; and hot and embarrassed, cursing his haste, he stood looking awkwardly at them.
"Madame," he stammered at last, "you know quite well that--" "Seeing is believing!" "That I thought it was you!" "Oh, what I have lost!" she replied.