Suddenly, in the very midst of his explanation, the gentleman pushed the lantern too far, so that it fell from the table to the floor; the lights were at once uncovered and the room was suddenly illuminated. I instantly turned my eyes toward my wife. Monsieur Dulac was seated behind her, but one of her arms was hanging over her chair and her hand was in her neighbor’s. I started up so suddenly to go to Eugénie that I trod upon Giraud’s feet, he was so close to me. He uttered a piercing shriek and declared that I had hurt him. I did not think of apologizing; I forced a passage to my wife’s side; her arm was no longer over the back of her chair and Monsieur Dulac was farther away. I do not know how I looked at them, but Eugénie seemed perturbed and Monsieur Dulac’s face wore a most embarrassed expression. “Take your shawl,” I said abruptly to my wife; “call your daughter and let us go.” “Why are we going so soon?” asked Eugénie, looking at me in surprise. “Because I wish it, madame. Come, no comments, but make haste.” The tone in which I said this was so new to Eugénie’s ears that she rose at once to obey; moreover, people might have heard me speaking to her in that tone and I fancy that she did not desire that. She was ready in a moment; I took my daughter’s hand, and we prepared to go. “Are you going already?” asked the mistress of the house. “Why, it isn’t all over, he is going to mend the lantern.” “We cannot stay any longer,” I said, curtly enough. “I do not feel very well,” murmured Eugénie; “we must go.” I did not say a word to my wife on the way home, for our daughter was with us. Poor child! I had deprived her of a part of the pleasure which she had anticipated, but she dared not complain. When we were at home and her daughter was in bed, Eugénie said to me in a bitter tone: “May I know why you dragged me away so abruptly from the party where we were?” “May I know, madame, why your hand was in Monsieur Dulac’s, while the room was dark?” “My hand in Monsieur Dulac’s? You dreamed it!” “No, madame, I did not dream it; I saw it, and saw it very distinctly.” “I do not know but that Monsieur Dulac did take my hand, by accident or in jest. I certainly did not notice it! So that was why you rushed up like a madman, and spoke to me in a threatening tone, as if you were going to strike me; that is why you drew everybody’s eyes upon me, is it? No one accustomed to society was ever before known to behave as you did!” “Madame, when I consider myself insulted, I pay little heed to society. There was a time when you thought and acted in the same way. I do not know what sort of jesting Monsieur Dulac presumes to indulge in with you, but I warn you that I don’t like it. I request you not to allow it any more.” “You expect me to mention your idiotic ideas to that young man? I will do nothing of the kind! It is perfectly absurd.” “Very well; whenever it suits me, I shall not hesitate to turn the fellow out of doors.”