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198 "I pledge you my honor," returned the count, "I wish to go to Paris; I must go there."

"When do you propose going?"

"When shall you be there yourself?"

"In a fortnight or three weeks' time; that is to say, as fast as I can get there!"

"Nay," said the count, "I will give you three months; you see I give good measure."

"And in three months' time," said Albert, "you will knock at my door?"

"Shall we make an appointment for a particular day and hour?" inquired the count; "let me warn you that I am a man of desperate exactitude."

"The very thing!" exclaimed Albert; "day and hour!"

"So be it, then," replied the count, and extending his hand toward an almanac, suspended near the chimney-piece, he said:

"To-day is the 21st of February," and drawing out his watch, added, "it is exactly half-past ten o'clock in the morning. Now, expect me the 21st of May at the same hour in the forenoon."

"Capital!" exclaimed Albert; "breakfast shall be ready."

"Where do you live?"

"No. 27, Rue du Helder."

"Have you bachelor's apartments there? I will not put you to any inconvenience."

"I reside in my father's hotel, but in a pavilion at the farther side of the court-yard, entirely separate."

"Good," replied the count, as, taking out his tablets, he wrote down "No. 27, Rue du Helder, 21st May, half-past ten in the morning."

"Now, then," said the count, returning his tablets to his pocket, "make yourself easy; the hand of your timepiece will not be more accurate than myself."

"Shall I see you again ere my departure?" asked Albert.

"That will be according to circumstances; but when do you set off?"

"To-morrow evening at five o'clock."

"In that case I must say adieu. I am compelled to go to Naples and shall not return hither before Saturday evening or Sunday morning. And you, M. le Baron," pursued the count, addressing Franz, "do you also depart to-morrow?"

"Yes, I go also."

"And whither do you wend your way f to Paris?"

"No, to Venice; I shall remain in Italy for another year or two."

"Then we shall not meet in Paris?"