M. PHILOMENE (_reluctantly_):--Madame de Montparnasse observed to me that what she particularly disliked was a mixed society like--like the present; and that she hoped our friend Madame Marotte would in future be less indiscriminate in the choice of her acquaintances. MULLER (_with elaborate courtesy_):--We are all infinitely obliged to Madame de Montparnasse for her opinion of us--(I speak for the society, as leader of the circle)--and beg to assure her that we entirely coincide in her views. It rests with Madame to carry on the game, and to betray the confidence of Monsieur Dorinet. MADAME DE MONTPARNASSE (_with obvious satisfaction_):--Monsieur Dorinet told me that Rosalie Desjardin's legs were ill-made, and that she would never make a dancer, though she practised from now till doomsday. M. DORINET (_springing to his feet as if he had been shot_):--Heavens and earth! Madame de Montparnasse, what have I done that you should so pervert my words? Mam'selle Rosalie--_ma chère elève_, believe me, I never.... "Silence in the circle!" shouted Müller again. M. DORINET:--But, M'sieur, in simple self-defence.... MULLER:--Self-defence, Monsieur Dorinet, is contrary to the rules of the game. Revenge only is permitted. Revenge yourself on Madame Desjardins, whose secret it is your turn to tell. M. DORINET:--Madame Desjardins drew my attention to the toilette of Madame de Montparnasse. She said: "_Mon Dieu!_ Monsieur Dorinet, are you not tired of seeing La Montparnasse in that everlasting old black gown? My Rosalie says she is in mourning for her ugliness." MADAME DESJARDINS (_laughing heartily_):--_Eh bien--oui!_ I don't deny it; and Rosalie's _mot_ was not bad. And now, M'sieur the Englishman (_turning to me_), it is your turn to be betrayed. Monsieur, whose name I cannot pronounce, said to me:--"Madame, the French, _selon moi_, are the best dressed and most _spirituel_ people of Europe. Their very silence is witty; and if mankind were, by universal consent, to go without clothes to-morrow, they would wear the primitive costume of Adam and Eve more elegantly than the rest of the world, and still lead the fashion," (_A murmur of approval on the part of the company, who take the compliment entirely aux serieux_.) MYSELF (_agreeably conscious of having achieved popularity_):--Our hostess's deafness having unfortunately excluded her from this part of the game, I was honored with the confidence of Mdlle. Honoria, who informed me that she is to make her _début_ before long at the Theatre Français, and hoped that I would take tickets for the occasion. MDLLE. ROSALIE (_satirically_):--_Brava_, Honoria! What a woman of business you are! MDLLE. HONORIA (_affecting not to hear this observation_)-- "_Roses bloom in the fourth, and your secret, my dear, Which you whispered so softly just now in my ear, I repeat word for word for the others to hear_."