When Lucien went back to Madame de Serizy’s box, instead of turning to him, smiling and arranging her skirts for him to sit by her, she affected to pay him not the slightest attention, but looked about the house through her glass. Lucien could see, however, by the shaking of her hand that the Countess was suffering from one of those terrible emotions by which illicit joys are paid for. He went to the front of the box all the same, and sat down by her at the opposite corner, leaving a little vacant space between himself and the Countess. He leaned on the ledge of the box with his elbow, resting his chin on his gloved hand; then he half turned away, waiting for a word. By the middle of the act the Countess had still neither spoken to him nor looked at him. “I do not know,” said she at last, “why you are here; your place is in Mademoiselle Esther’s box----” “I will go there,” said Lucien, leaving the box without looking at the Countess. “My dear,” said Madame du Val-Noble, going into Esther’s box with Peyrade, whom the Baron de Nucingen did not recognize, “I am delighted to introduce Mr. Samuel Johnson. He is a great admirer of M. de Nucingen’s talents.” “Indeed, monsieur,” said Esther, smiling at Peyrade. “Oh yes, bocou,” said Peyrade. “Why, Baron, here is a way of speaking French which is as much like yours as the low Breton dialect is like that of Burgundy. It will be most amusing to hear you discuss money matters.--Do you know, Monsieur Nabob, what I shall require of you if you are to make acquaintance with my Baron?” said Esther with a smile. “Oh!--Thank you so much, you will introduce me to Sir Baronet?” said Peyrade with an extravagant English accent. “Yes,” said she, “you must give me the pleasure of your company at supper. There is no pitch stronger than champagne for sticking men together. It seals every kind of business, above all such as you put your foot in.--Come this evening; you will find some jolly fellows.--As for you, my little Frederic,” she added in the Baron’s ear, “you have your carriage here--just drive to the Rue Saint-Georges and bring Europe to me here; I have a few words to say to her about the supper. I have caught Lucien; he will bring two men who will be fun.--We will draw the Englishman,” she whispered to Madame du Val-Noble. Peyrade and the Baron left the women together. “Oh, my dear, if you ever succeed in drawing that great brute, you will be clever indeed,” said Suzanne. “If it proves impossible, you must lend him to me for a week,” replied Esther, laughing. “You would but keep him half a day,” replied Madame du Val-Noble. “The bread I eat is too hard; it breaks my teeth. Never again, to my dying day, will I try to make an Englishman happy. They are all cold and selfish--pigs on their hind legs.” “What, no consideration?” said Esther with a smile. “On the contrary, my dear, the monster has never shown the least familiarity.” “Under no circumstances whatever?” asked Esther.