"Monsieur de la Beriniere, pray come here a moment." "Gad! Madame de Mirallon can't seem to get enough of me this evening. It's a conspiracy! Can she have conceived the idea of monopolizing me?" And the count, who had made these remarks in an undertone, added aloud: "But, madame, I see that Monsieur Batonnin is no longer your partner; Monsieur Gerbault has taken his place, so you can have no reason to complain now." "Ah! what a cruel man you are! I wanted to show you an extraordinary hand." "Mon Dieu! she has shown me her hand often enough!" muttered the count, turning toward young De Raincy; "I don't care to see it any more." Auguste, having shaken hands with his father-in-law, and said a word or two to the different guests, went up to his wife and tapped her gently on the cheek. "You are making me a piece of furniture, I see, madame," he said; "that is well done of you!" "Oh! that would take too long," rejoined Fanny, looking up at her husband as she would have looked at the merest acquaintance; "it's a stool, that's all." "Mon Dieu! what are you doing with that newspaper spread out before you?" "I am posting myself as to the prices of stocks, my dear." "That's a most entertaining occupation for a woman." As he spoke, Auguste took the paper, crumpled it in his hands, and tossed it into a corner of the salon; Fanny watched him while he did it, then glanced at her sister, and said under her breath: "You see, he doesn't want me to look at the market reports. But I shall look at some other paper--that's all." "Does your arm still pain you, brother?" Adolphine asked Monleard, having observed his thoughtful expression. "No, little sister, no. I thank you for being good enough to take some interest in it. There are people who take more interest in the rise and fall of stocks than in the wound I received; and yet----" He paused, as if he were afraid of saying too much; but Adolphine had fully grasped the significance of his words, and she whispered to her sister: "Your husband is vexed because you didn't ask him about his wound." "Let me alone, pray! Haven't I seen my husband to-day? I fancy that the condition of his arm hasn't changed in a few hours." "No matter; it isn't nice of you not to show more interest; for, after all, it was on your account that that duel took place." "Oh! I beg you, Adolphine, don't talk to me like that; you set my nerves on edge! For several days, my husband has been in a very disagreeable mood; as I cannot be the cause of it, I don't worry about it in the least; indeed, I even pretend not to notice it." "If I were in your place, I would ask him the cause of it." "Oh! I should be very sorry if I did! My gentleman is capricious, it seems; so much the worse for him!" "If I am not mistaken, you promised to sing for us, mademoiselle," said Monsieur de la Beriniere, who had once more escaped from Madame de Mirallon and hastened to Adolphine's side.