"It isn't a question of drinking only; everybody's feeling in his pocket, you see."

"Ah! that's so. Pardieu! I'll give ten sous."

"That isn't much for a baron! but perhaps it's enough for you. I will collect the offerings in this preserve dish."

"Faith! the money can go to its address at once," said Chamoureau; "for, as I wanted little Emile to make a public apology to my wife, I told Jacqueline to bring him to us while we were at dinner."

Thelenie glared at her husband with a savage gleam in her eyes.

"What, monsieur? what did you say? this nurse----"

"Is coming here, my dear love, with the little vagabond, to apologize to you. It's a little surprise I arranged for you. Then we will give the good woman the money we have collected for her. I can see her joy now; it will make a charming picture!"

"Why, monsieur, you have no common sense! What need have we of that peasant woman's presence, to bore us with her chatter?"

At that moment a servant came forward and said:

"There's a country woman outside with a little boy; she wishes to pay her respects to madame."

Thelenie rose abruptly.

"This is very strange!" she said; "I am terribly dizzy; I do not feel at all well. Receive this woman, monsieur, and send her away. Come with me, Helose. Pray don't be alarmed, my friends, it will not be anything serious."

And Thelenie took her friend's arm and left the tent with a rapidity most surprising in a person who feels indisposed.

But the guests did not notice this circ.u.mstance; they were awaiting with interest the nurse and the little boy, who soon presented themselves, the former with repeated curtsies, the latter staring at the whole company with an impertinent expression.

"That little fellow has very fine eyes!" said Freluchon; "they are almost as large as Madame de Belleville's. Don't you think so, Baron von Schtapelmerg?"

The baron, who was beginning to be a little tipsy, replied:

"My sister has the finest eyes in Paris!"

"Your sister! who's your sister?"

Croque saw that he had made a false step.

"Yes, I've got a sister," he rejoined, "who has a pair of eyes like portes cocheres."

And he poured out a gla.s.s of water and swallowed it at a draught, muttering:

"I've had enough wine for to-day; I must look out for myself."

Meanwhile Chamoureau, thinking that the moment had come to put in a little _speech_, took the preserve dish which contained the proceeds of the collection, and said to the peasant:

"My good woman, it is with renewed pleasure--no; I noticed long ago--wait; no, never mind that.--You will not see Madame de Belleville, for, notwithstanding her earnest desire to know you, a sudden indisposition, which I attribute to--what on earth can have made my wife ill? perhaps it was the melon; and yet it was delicious; but there is much difference in digestions--What were we saying?--Ah! there's the little rascal who dared to throw stones at my wife. He looks promising.

I say, my buck--my lost child!--he's the lost child, isn't he?"

"Alas! yes, monsieur."

"Well, little gallows-bird [_pet.i.t pendu_]--lost child [_pet.i.t perdu_], I mean,--though, after all, if he keeps on, I shouldn't be surprised if he got hanged some day!"

"Oh, monsieur! on my word----"

"Do not be alarmed, Widow Jacqueline Treillard, that is simply a supposition.--Well, you little rascal, will you ever throw stones at my wife again?"

"You're the one I'll throw 'em at, to teach you to say I'm going to be hung!" retorted the boy, glaring angrily at Chamoureau, who was completely disconcerted, for he did not expect that retort.

Freluchon, observing the widow's distress, rose hastily, took the preserve dish from Chamoureau's hands, and poured the contents into Jacqueline's ap.r.o.n.

"There, my good woman," he said, "it was my idea to take up this collection for your benefit; so it is my place to hand you the proceeds, especially as Monsieur de Belleville keeps you waiting too long. Now, go away with your foster-child; for he might say things which would put him out of favor in this house."

The peasant opened her eyes at sight of the money in her ap.r.o.n; she tried to express her thanks, but Chamoureau motioned to the servants to take her away, and in a moment Jacqueline and the boy disappeared.

As Madame de Belleville did not return, they soon left the table, to take coffee in the salons.

"I am greatly distressed," said Chamoureau, "that my wife should have been taken ill, for she has lost the pleasure of seeing the nurse, and hearing the little boy."

"Especially," said Freluchon, "as she seemed very anxious to see them, and as the little boy said things that were very pleasant to hear."

At last Thelenie reappeared in the salons. She had changed her dress, which fact satisfactorily accounted for her long absence. Admiring exclamations greeted her striking beauty and her new costume.

"Evidently," cried Monsieur Luminot, "Madame de Belleville intends to turn all our heads!"

This compliment was warmly applauded; there was a concert of praise which became almost frenzied; it was easy to see that they had all dined sumptuously.

Thelenie, while smiling affably in response to the compliments with which she was bombarded, found a way to approach Croque and whisper to him:

"You must not go away to-night until I have spoken to you; don't forget; it is very important!"

Ere long a rocket gave the signal for the fireworks, which were displayed in front of the house. Chamoureau had insisted on having his own monogram and his wife's on a transparency. But the pyrotechnist, having misunderstood his instructions, had supplied an E instead of a C; so that the transparency presented the combination E B T.

It was applauded none the less heartily. Thelenie alone shrugged her shoulders, as she said to her husband:

"Let's hope, monsieur, this will be your last surprise!"

Many people came for the ball only; among them was Edmond, who entered the gorgeous salons of the villa about eleven o'clock.

Chamoureau ran to meet him and grasped his hand.

"My dear Monsieur Edmond Didier," he said, "how delighted I am to have you as my guest."

"My congratulations, Chamoureau--I beg pardon! Monsieur de Belleville; your house is magnificent!"

"Isn't it? It is truly regal. My wife will be very glad to see you; shall I present you to her?"

"Oh! it's not worth while. I have the honor of her acquaintance, you know."

"Yes, to be sure! I had quite forgotten that you used to--know her! But excuse me; they are going to dance, and my wife has given me a list of seventeen people that I must dance with."