“Now we are going back to Paris; we are to dine at the Rocher de Cancale with these ladies, and they hope that you will join us, for the party would not be complete without you.”
Chérubin was excited, and he hesitated. Daréna made a sign to the dancers, who at once surrounded the youth, saying:
“Oh, yes, monsieur, come to Paris with us!”
“You must go to the Opéra to-night; you will see us dance there, and it will be rather different from what it was in this room.”
“It would be very mean of you to refuse us.”
“And then,” cried Malvina, “at the Rocher de Cancale! That’s the place to get a good dinner! I’m going to stuff myself, I am!”
“Come, come, you must be one of us!” exclaimed Daréna.
The Spaniard and the Neapolitan each seized one of Chérubin’s arms; he let them drag him away and they carried him, almost dancing, to the cab, which he entered with Daréna and the four dancers.
“But I have a carriage,” cried the notary; “you will be too crowded with six in there! Let some of the ladies come in my carriage.”
“No, no!” said Daréna; “we’ll sit in one another’s laps--it’s all the more fun!--Off you go, driver; founder your nags--we’ll pay you for them. To the Rocher de Cancale!”
The cab drove away with Chérubin, who had not even had time to bid his nurse good-bye.
“Daréna has succeeded!” said Monfréville; “the bird has left his nest.”
“Yes,” replied Monsieur d’Hurbain, “but this sort of thing must not go too far. And this dinner--with those women; really, I can’t be there. I, a notary, dine with ballet dancers!”
“Oh! bless my soul! just once; you can go _incog_. Besides, it’s for a good motive, and your presence will prevent the dinner from being too indecent. Let us take my tilbury, we can follow them better.”
Monsieur d’Hurbain entered the tilbury with Monfréville, and Monsieur Gérondif and Jasmin jumped into the carriage.
“They are taking my young master to the Rocher de Cancale,” said the old servant, “and I have ordered a sumptuous banquet at the house, and a reception, with music and flowers and----”
“Never mind, worthy Jasmin,” rejoined the tutor, “all those things will serve as well later; my pupil will have to go home eventually. As for myself, I am Mentor, and I must not abandon Telemachus, even when he goes to dinner at the Rocher de Cancale.”