"Ah, yes! because you can ruin yourself faster at that. Thanks! I think I'll go and dance. I asked the hostess for a dance, and she put my name down; but I was twenty-first on the list." "In that cath, your turn will come by to-morrow night." "Oh! Madame Monleard will make an exception in my favor." "Why tho, pray?" "Because I am her broker." "Oho! do you mean that Madame Monleard gambleth on the Bourth?" "Why, yes--moderately; but she's luckier than her husband." "Tho he hath been lothing, hath he?" "I should say so!--immense sums, of late. Indeed, I will admit that I was much surprised at his giving a party--although, to be sure, that is sometimes an excellent way of deceiving people as to one's position and retaining one's credit." "The deuth! what are you talking about?" "At this moment, I have an idea that he is staking all to win all, as they say, on a certain deal; but if he loses----" "Look out! here comth hith father-in-law. Come thith way." The two young men, arm in arm, walked into another room. "Mon Dieu! how beautifully your wife dances!" said Batonnin to Monleard, as Fanny whirled by them, dancing the mazurka with a partner who guided her perfectly and executed some novel steps. "What! did you say that it's too warm here?" "No, I never complain of the heat; I'm a genuine African in that respect. I was admiring Madame Monleard's dancing--she's dancing the mazurka at this moment; there they go again! I must say that she has a partner who does himself credit, too; he holds her so firmly, and she trusts herself to his guidance with such abandon! a very pretty fellow that! What is his name? By the way--what! he has gone, and without answering my question! Hum! They may say what they choose, but Monsieur Monleard isn't in his usual form to-night; he's too preoccupied, too distraught. It's a good thing that that doesn't keep his wife from dancing." About two o'clock, the ladies were invited to repair to a table laden with a magnificent supper; as the company was so large that all could not sup at once, the ladies took their turn first, and the men waited until they had finished, except a few impatient individuals, such as one sees at almost all balls, who found a way to squeeze in at the table with the ladies, where, on the pretext of waiting on them, they did not fail to help themselves abundantly to everything that was most delicate and appetizing. Indeed, it not infrequently happens that, after they have laid hands upon everything within reach, and eaten uninterruptedly, while most of the ladies have done nothing but talk, these same gallant creatures return to the supper table with the men, and fall to anew, as if they had eaten nothing. There are some worthies capable of that; we ourselves have seen it done.