My dear Friend,

I will need you this evening at the Hotel X-. Do not forget your promise of the day before yesterday, or I will pull out-you know…

Truly yours, Pauline.

Pauline was a handsome girl but I could not obtain anything from her but correspondence for a long time. I accepted writing to her with the hope that I would gain my point some day, but in vain. You will see later on how I succeeded.

Although it was too early to keep my appointment with Pauline, nevertheless I directed my steps in the direction of the Hotel Xsimply because it was my regular hour. When the sweet little maid opened the door, she said mockingly, as she looked at the clock: "I could have guessed it was you!"

The roguish remark was worth the five francs I placed in her hand as I familiarly walked into the little parlour, whose open doors seemed to tender me a pressing invitation. And then I heard the melodious voice of a siren: "Julie!" said the voice, "if Monsieur Lorille comes, bring him in at once."

Julie had no time to answer, as I was already in the room. A splendid blonde was half sitting, half lying on a sofa. I remained standing before her with bowed head. I have always been gallant and I was humbly awaiting when a peal of laughter caused me to start.

"I have not called for a mirror, you are mistaken!"

The little woman was indulging in a hearty laugh at the expense of my bald head. A novice would have been confused, but I answered:

"What, Madame, such charming beauty as yourself, could not do better than admire her own image, she would then imagine that all around her was beautiful."