"No,édé thanks; I prefer to be cold. But, tell me, Balloquet, what in the deuce has happened to you since I saw you last? Then you had a very pretty little suite of rooms, handsomely furnished; you had everything you wanted, and a fellow didn't freeze in your room; and to-day you are perched on a sixth floor, in a single room; for I don't see any other than the one I entered, and this is evidently the whole apartment."
"Yes; but how beautifully it's decorated, eh? Fresh paint, and this wall paper, and that ceiling with a centre-piece!"
"Yes, yes, it's all fresh and new; for all that, I should think that you'd need some furniture."
"Do you think so? For my part, when an apartment has pretty wall paper and fresh paint, it seems to me that very little furniture is required."
"Very little, possibly, but some; and I didn't see a single piece in the outer room."
"Furniture would make it look smaller, and it's none too large."
I began to laugh, and Balloquet followed suit, rolling himself up in the bedclothes.
"My dear Rochebrune," he continued, "I will conceal the truth from you no longer: you see before you a man who is completely _strapped_--yes, completely!"
"Parbleu! did you suppose that I hadn't discovered it?"
"I'll tell you what has happened to me.--Sapristi! where in the deuce is it? I can't find it, and I must have it."
"What are you looking for under your bedclothes?"
"A friend, a trusty companion, who is of great assistance to me."
"No, no, it isn't a dog. Ah! here it is!"
And Balloquet produced a little squirrel which he had just captured at the foot of his bed, and which he proceeded to fasten to the back of a chair by a small chain.
"He's a gift from the sentimental Satiné; and he would have gone the way of everything else, but for the fact that he has often helped me out of a scrape."
"Yes, my dear fellow. Perhaps you will have ocular proof of it before long. But let me tell you the story of my misfortunes. I am sorry that you won't get into bed; I'm afraid that you are cold."
"Faith! it's doubtful. Ah, yes! I see three in the corner. Why? have you got some firewood in your pocket?"
"No; but I have some cigars, and I propose to smoke one."
"An excellent idea! smoking keeps you warm. Have you a cigar for friendship?"