"I couldn't, my dear child. Adolphine must have told you that I had promised a gentleman from the provinces----" "A fine reason! You should have sent your gentleman from the provinces off somewhere to dine by himself." "No, when I have promised, I keep my promise. Where is your husband, by the way?" "He had somebody to see to-night. He'll be at home soon." "There! we have lost! I knew it!" cried Madame de Mirallon. "Ah! Monsieur Batonnin, I will never forgive you those six counters!" "But, madame, I am well paid by the pleasure of having been your partner." "Luckily, Monsieur Gerbault is here. He knows how to play! Come and take a hand, Monsieur Gerbault." "I do not care to play any more," said De Raincy; "when I have played two rubberth, I have had enough; it maketh my head ache." As he spoke, the nattily-gloved youth left the card-table and joined the two sisters. "Were you at the Bourse to-day, Monsieur de Raincy?" inquired Fanny. "Thertainly, madame; I go there every day." "How were the Orleans and Lyon Railway shares?" "Very thtrong, madame." "Do you think they'll go higher?" "Why, yeth, I think tho; unleth they go down." "That's rather a vague opinion." "I never have any definite opinion. At the Bourth one ith tho often mithtaken! But your huthband can keep you pothted better than I can. He ith alwayth there; he theemth to be interethted in thome big dealth." "Auguste? True, but he doesn't like to have me ask him how the market is going; he declares that women know nothing about it; that they ought to attend to spending the money, not to making it." "I fanthy that ith the general rule among the ladieth." "I think differently. Oh! if I had been a man, I would have been a stock-broker!" "Do you mean it! There are thome of them who have to put up with lotheth. Ah! here'th our dear Monleard!" Fanny's husband had just arrived; he wore his right arm in a sling; he was very pale, his face was careworn, and his eyes almost sombre. However, finding guests in his salon, he instantly assumed the affable manner which a host should always display. Young De Raincy hastened to go to shake hands with him. "Good-evening! dear boy." "Good-evening! Anatole. Messieurs, mesdames, your servant!" The Comte de la Beriniere also shook hands with Monleard, crying: "Ah! here's the lucky man! the fortunate husband! So you still offer your left hand, eh?" "What would you have! it's not my fault that I can't use my right." "Why the devil do you want to fall on the stairs? You're too careless--and the day after your wedding, too! I'll stake my head you were running to your wife?" "Just so!" Auguste replied, with a glance at Fanny, who simply smiled, without raising her eyes from her embroidery frame. "I was sure of it! It was his haste, his love for you, belle dame, which caused his accident. Ah! your eyes are very dangerous! But, after all, as love caused the destruction of Troy, it may well make a man slip on the stairs."