"Oh! Monsieur Luminot! do you dare to mention two sous? Don't you see that these gentlemen are playing for gold?"

"Gold! real gold?"

"As real as can be!" replied Croque; "and if you want to bet a few napoleons on my opponent, I'll take all bets."

"I! I think not! I'll bet two sous and no more!"

"Well, mesdames, have you enjoyed yourselves?" inquired Thelenie.

"Oh! your party is simply enchanting, Madame de Belleville; it is magnificent!"

"Admirable!"

"What a charming company you have brought together!"

"I tried to have the best people in the neighborhood."

"And you have succeeded."

"I did think for a moment of inviting those two ladies who bought Monsieur Courtivaux's house, but----"

"Fie! fie! my dear love! What were you thinking of? why those women are not received anywhere!"

"But I thought----"

"La Dalmont and Demoiselle Agathe; does anybody know who they are?"

The names of Madame Dalmont and Agathe reached Edmond's ears, and he listened, continuing his game.

"On the contrary," cried Madame Remplume, "we know much too well who they are!"

"Yes, you are right; we know some fine things about those flaunting hussies."

"Of whom are you speaking, madame?" said Edmond, turning abruptly toward Madame Droguet.

"Of whom am I speaking, monsieur!" rejoined the giantess, slightly taken aback by this sudden question. "Why, in the first place, it seems to me that I am not accountable to you."

"Madame was speaking of the persons with whom you pa.s.s your evenings,"

observed Thelenie with a sneering smile.

"And madame, in speaking of those ladies, presumed to make use of expressions which I cannot and will not endure."

"I have the vole and the king," said Croque, marking three points.

"What does that mean, monsieur?" demanded the ex-vivandiere, rolling her eyes furiously. "You don't wish me to say what everyone in this neighborhood thinks about those ladies; why should I hesitate, I pray to know?"

"What do people in the neighborhood say of those ladies?"

"I mark the king."

"They say, monsieur, that they are--not of much account; and no one will receive them!"

"Those who say that, madame, do so either from evil-mindedness or from stupidity; and none but the most despicable people can possibly make such remarks!"

"Despicable! Monsieur, it seems to me that you insult me!"

"It is you, madame, who insult two persons who deserve all your respect."

"I have won!"

"My respect! Ha! ha! that is too much! Luminot, do you hear what monsieur says?"

"What is it? what's the matter? what are you talking about?"

"The two women who live in the Courtivaux house."

"Ah! hussies! wantons!"

Edmond sprang to his feet and grasped Luminot's arm, crying:

"Monsieur, admit that you have lied, that your words are false; take them back at once, or I won't answer for my wrath!"

The Droguets, Remplumes and Jarnouillards shrieked in unison:

"He has told the truth; he won't say anything different; he has simply expressed our opinion."

"Take it back, monsieur, take it back instantly!"

"No, I won't take it back," said the former wine merchant, whose brain was excited by all he had drunk, and who was inflamed by the harpies who surrounded him. "On the contrary, I repeat it: those two women are----"

A violent blow on the cheek prevented him from finishing his sentence.

Bewildered a moment by the blow he had received, Luminot stared vacantly about; but when he saw Edmond still glaring at him with a threatening expression, the stout man prepared to rush at him.

All the ladies present, instead of trying to hold him back, were rather inclined to lend him their a.s.sistance; but at that moment Freluchon appeared on the scene, attracted by the noise; he forced his way through the crowd to Luminot's side, and just as he extended his arm to strike Edmond, the diminutive fellow's muscular arms took him by the waist, lifted him like a feather and tossed him upon whoever happened to be behind him. The wine merchant fell upon Monsieur Droguet, whom he flattened out beneath him.

Thereupon lamentable cries arose.

"Oh! mon Dieu! they have crushed my husband!" shrieked Madame Droguet.

"This is the scene which I expected," said Freluchon, "and which Madame Chamoureau had carefully arranged! Now, Edmond, I trust that you will consent to go away with me.--Chamoureau, my boy, your little fete was delightful; and your wife, Madame Chamoureau, whose name is no more De Belleville than mine is Abd-el-Kader, arranged some very charming surprises for us."

"Monsieur," said Edmond, walking up to Luminot, who had struggled to his feet, but was very sore about the loins, "men of breeding do not settle their quarrels like street porters. I am ready to give you satisfaction.

I live in this village, as you are well aware; to-morrow I shall expect your seconds.--Let us be off, Freluchon."

"Off we go, my dear fellow.--I present my respects to Monsieur and Madame Chamoureau.--Ah! and the German baron who doesn't know German; I was forgetting him. Good-night, my dear Schtapelmerg! a thousand sauerkrauts in my name to your acquaintances."

"Don't you mean to chastise such insolence?" murmured Thelenie, touching Croque's arm. But he replied simply: