"Then I'm at your service!" exclaimed Chupin. And, loading
himself with a host of flower-pots as skilfully as if he had been
accustomed to handling them all his life, he added: "Now, lead the
way."
The valet and the concierge preceded him with empty hands, of
course; and, on reaching the second floor, they opened a door, and
said: "This is the place. Come in."
Chupin had expected to find that M. de Coralth's apartments were
handsomer than his own in the Faubourg Saint Denis; but he had
scarcely imagined such luxury as pervaded this establishment. The
chandeliers seemed marvels in his eyes; and the sumptuous chairs
and couches eclipsed M. Fortunat's wonderful sofa completely. "So
he no longer amuses himself with petty rascalities," thought
Chupin, as he surveyed the rooms. "Monsieur's working on a grand
scale now. Decidedly this mustn't be allowed to continue."
Thereupon he busied himself placing the flowers in the numerous
jardinieres scattered about the rooms, as well as in a tiny
conservatory, cleverly contrived on the balcony, and adjoining a
little apartment with silk hangings, that was used as a smoking-
room. Under the surveillance of the concierge and the valet he
was allowed to visit the whole apartments. He admired the
drawing-room, filled to overflowing with costly trifles; the
dining-room, furnished in old oak; the luxurious bed-room with its
bed mounted upon a platform, as if it were a throne, and the
library filled with richly bound volumes.
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