My friend the hall-porter was standing behind his counter, doing nothing.
"I wish you would send a boy into the cafe," I said, "and ask Louis to send me a box of my cigarettes." "With pleasure, sir," the man answered.

"By the bye," he added, "Louis is not there himself, but I suppose any of the others would know the sort you smoke, sir ?" "Not there ?" I answered, glancing at the clock.

"Ah! I suppose it is a little early for him." "He will not be there at all this evening," the porter answered.

"The second _maitre d'hotel_ was here a few minutes ago, and told me so himself." "Not there at all!" I repeated.

"Do you mean to say that Louis has a night off ?" "Certainly, sir," the man answered.