Monsieur--Oysters and a partridge! You are an angel. (He kisses her.) An angel. (Aside.) What on earth is the matter with her? (Aloud.) Have you had visitors to-day? Madame--I saw Ernestine this morning, but she only stayed a moment. She has just discharged her maid. Would you believe it, that girl was seen the night before last dressed up as a man, and in her master's clothes, too! That was going too far. Monsieur--That comes of having confidential servants. And you just got a sight of Ernestine? Madame--And that was quite enough, too. (With an exclamation.) How stupid I am! I forgot. I had a visit from Madame de Lyr as well. Monsieur--God bless her! But does she still laugh on one side of her mouth to hide her black tooth? Madame-How cruel you are! Yet, she likes you very well. Poor woman! I was really touched by her visit. She came to remind me that we-- now you will be angry. (She kisses him and sits down beside him.) Monsieur--Be angry! be angry! I'm not a Turk. Come, what is it? Madame--Come, we shall go to dinner. You know that there are oysters and a partridge. I won't tell you--you are already in a bad temper. Besides, I all but told her that we are not going. Monsieur--(raising his hands aloft)--I thought so. She and her evening may go to the dogs. What have I done to this woman that she should so pester me? Madame--But she thinks she is affording you pleasure. She is a charming friend. As for me, I like her because she always speaks well of you. If you had been hidden in that cabinet during her visit, you could not have helped blushing. (He shrugs his shoulders.) "Your husband is so amiable," she said to me, "so cheery, so witty. Try to bring him; it is an honor to have him." I said, "Certainly," but without meaning it, you know. But I don't care about it at all. It is not so very amusing at Madame de Lyr's. She always invites such a number of serious people. No doubt they are influential people, and may prove useful, but what does that matter to me? Come to dinner. You know that there is a bottle left of that famous Pomard; I have kept it for your partridge. You can not imagine what pleasure I feel in seeing you eat a partridge. You eat it with such a gusto. You are a glutton, my dear. (She takes his arm.) Come, I can hear your rascal of a son getting impatient in the dining- room. Monsieur--(with a preoccupied air)--Hum! and when is it? Madame--When is what? Monsieur--The party, of course. Madame--Ah! you mean the ball--I was not thinking of it. Madame de Lyr's ball. Why do you ask me that, since we are not going? Let us make haste, dinner is getting cold . . . . This evening. Monsieur--(stopping short)--What! this party is a ball, and this ball is for this evening. But, hang it! people don't invite you to a ball like that. They always give notice some time beforehand.