"Go; don't stand on ceremony."

Thelenie caught sight of Edmond, and a gleam of satisfaction lighted up her face, which had been very dark ever since she had learned that Jacqueline Treillard was at Ch.e.l.les. She went forward at once to meet the young man, thanked him for coming to her party and gave him a most cordial welcome. Then she pointed to the card tables, saying:

"If you don't wish to dance, there is a way of pa.s.sing the time; do whatever you choose."

Edmond sought out Freluchon and asked in a low tone:

"How has the affair gone off?"

"My dear fellow, first of all I must do justice to the dinner; it was magnificent, nothing was lacking. Chamoureau was adorably idiotic and told us about a scientific discovery that was enough to make one burst with laughter. But after that there was a very peculiar story of a nurse. I have strange suspicions; I'll tell you about it later. Look you, if you take my advice, you won't stay here. Let's go right away, I'll go with you."

"Why so, pray?"

"I have an idea that Thelenie is concocting some villainy against you; I have surprised a number of hints and treacherous smiles. That woman has never forgiven you for leaving her first!"

"Nonsense! you are mad! Thelenie has a lot of money, and she thinks of nothing but making a show with it; she doesn't give me a thought. What should I look like--to come here and run right away again? I mean to play cards. Gad! if I could only win!"

"Then you won't go away?"

"No, certainly not."

"In that case, do at least be on your guard."

"Really, Freluchon, I have never seen you as you are to-night."

"Distrust especially that villainous looking fellow who is watching the dancing, there at the left; he's a German baron, who is no more a German than he is a baron, and whom I suspect of being----"

"Well, what?"

"Thelenie's brother!"

"What an idea! I never heard of her having a brother."

"An additional reason that! it was probably because he was not a subject that she deemed good enough to put on exhibition."

"What kind of wine have you been drinking, to have such gloomy ideas?"

"Oh! I haven't drunk too much; I have been very careful. It isn't possible that that woman invited us for our good looks; let's go away."

"Freluchon, if I am really in any danger here, go away if you choose; I am going to stay."

"Enough! let's say no more about it. I am going to dance a polka."

The ball-room and card-rooms were soon full of animation. The servants went constantly to and fro with salvers laden with punch, hot or cold.

They also pa.s.sed madeira, champagne and claret; it seemed that the master, or rather the mistress of the house had no other object than to make the guests tipsy.

Thanks to this species of refreshment, the hilarity soon became uproarious, the dances a.s.sumed a decidedly Spanish character, and the ladies plunged into them with an _abandon_ that was at times decidedly eccentric.

Monsieur Droguet, who insisted on taking part in all the dances, even those that he did not know, had already been thrown to the floor three times; which did not deter him from beginning again as soon as he was on his feet.

Madame Droguet waltzed with the aplomb of a tower; she did not fall, but woe to those who collided with her! She and Monsieur Luminot, her partner, b.u.mped into and overthrew everyone who came in their path. The ex-dealer in wines had not allowed a salver of punch or champagne to pa.s.s him by without saying a word to it. The result was that he was purple; his eyes were starting from his head, and he seemed inclined to defy the whole world.

Edmond, after playing a few rubbers of whist, had taken his place at a lansquenet table, where he was not lucky. Croque did not lose sight of him, and when he left the lansquenet table, he accosted him, saying:

"I don't care for that game; you lose your money at it without a chance to defend yourself, without having even the pleasure of playing. I prefer ecarte, that's a game full of fine points. Does monsieur play it?"

"To be sure."

"Would you like to play a few games? here's an unoccupied table."

"I should be glad to; let us see if I shall be more fortunate at this game than the others."

"You probably will, monsieur, for I lose at it all the time, which does not prevent my being very fond of it; but we always become attached to ingrates!"

Edmond seated himself at a card-table opposite Croque, who continued:

"I like to play rather high."

"So do I."

"Then we have the same tastes. Twenty francs--does that frighten you?

these little gold pieces are so convenient!"

"Twenty francs it is."

The game began, and although the _soi-disant_ baron declared that he always lost at it, he won the first game and the next and all the rest, and the yellow boys flowed in his direction.

Edmond had lost more than a hundred francs; but he tried to recoup by increasing his stake, which suited his opponent perfectly.

"Monsieur," he replied to every such suggestion, "I am a bold player! I never refuse a man his revenge, and I cover whatever stake is proposed."

Thelenie pa.s.sed through the card-room several times to see what was going on; finally she came again, but with several ladies. She had Madame Droguet on her arm; Mesdames Remplume and Jarnouillard, with others, came behind. They all seated themselves near the table at which Croque and Edmond were playing ecarte.

"I am not sorry to rest a little," said the corpulent Droguet, sinking on a couch; "we danced that whole waltz without stopping, didn't we, Beau Luminot?"

Beau Luminot, puffing noisily, had taken his stand behind the ladies. He wiped the perspiration from his forehead as he replied:

"I'm as wet as a dish-rag; but we waltzed like Flora and Zephyr."

"Your husband is on edge, Madame de Belleville; he hasn't missed a dance yet."

"He is simply doing his duty; a host should set the example; he has got to exhaust his list."

"He may well be exhausted himself first. Are you ladies going to play cards?"

"Perhaps, neighbor, perhaps; we want to vary our pleasures."

"I'll bet two sous, if anybody will cover them."