The Count having made his excuses and departed, the friends resumed their airborne pursuit of the ravishing dragon-ladies. There was much exchange of bouquets, Greek fire, and raw lembasagna, and much snickering and meeping. Réginard had so much success that the draguine removed one of her wings. On arriving at their tree-hotel, Réginard announced to Arafrantz that he intended to write the lady a letter the next day. Arafrantz promised that he could have the eagle to himself the next day; he knew his worthy friend's lack of discretion well enough to be sanguine of learning of the smallest details of Réginard's adventure.
Arafrantz spent the rest of the day reading the brilliant oeuvre of Louis, Nymphs and Their Ways: L'Après-Love-life of a Faun. That evening, Réginard bounded into the room, mechanically shaking a piece of paper.
"She replied?" asked Arafrantz.
"Read," replied Réginard in a voice impossible to describe. Arafrantz took the billet-doux and read:
"Trewesday evening, at seven o'clock, dismount your eagle at Via Casarrondo, and follow the Lottolorian dragon who will seize your phial. When you arrive on the first step of the Church of San Bingo, be sure, that she may recognize you, to wear a white feather in your hat and hum Bombadillo's aria about the badger."
