“I say,” said Malvina, snatching the pail from the professor’s hand, “you make us sick, pouring it out so, drop by drop! I’d rather drink as much as I like--it’s a quicker way.” “It’s amazing how thirsty they are, for fashionable ladies,” said old Jasmin, rolling his eyes in wonderment. When the milk was exhausted, the four dancers took their places. The others were seated, Daréna with his kit. He played the air of the _Jota Arragonaise_, and the ladies began to dance with much grace and lightness of foot. The peasants were lost in admiration. Jasmin applauded; Monsieur Gérondif no longer lowered his eyes, and his whole face was as red and inflamed as his nose. Monfréville and the notary watched Chérubin; he seemed fascinated, enchanted by the novel spectacle presented to him, and his eyes did not grow weary of gazing at those young and pretty women, whose steps, whose attitudes, whose slightest movements were instinct with pleasure and licentiousness. Daréna, observing the effect produced by the dance, played a livelier air, then another in even quicker time. The dancers followed the change of tempo, and their dance became more rapid, more seductive. They seemed to vie with one another in grace and litheness; their eyes, enlivened by the violent exercise, shone brighter and with more fire. Jasmin applauded wildly, Monsieur Gérondif scratched his nose as if he would demolish it, and Chérubin became much moved. At that moment, excited by the zest with which she danced, Mademoiselle Malvina began to hurl her legs into space with such vigor that it was impossible for the spectators to avoid seeing that she wore no drawers. “They are bayadères!” cried Monsieur Gérondif, whose eyes were almost out of his head; “it’s the Mozambique dance! it’s very interesting!” Monsieur d’Hurbain, considering that the Mozambique dance went altogether too far, rose and said: “Very good, mesdames, but that will do; you must be tired.” “Bah!” cried Mademoiselle Malvina, “I’d like to dance the cancan myself! I’m rather good at the cancan.” Daréna, who was desirous that the effect produced by the dance should not be wasted, ran to Chérubin and took his arm, saying: “Now we are going back to Paris; we are to dine at the Rocher de Cancale with these ladies, and they hope that you will join us, for the party would not be complete without you.” Chérubin was excited, and he hesitated. Daréna made a sign to the dancers, who at once surrounded the youth, saying: “Oh, yes, monsieur, come to Paris with us!” “You must go to the Opéra to-night; you will see us dance there, and it will be rather different from what it was in this room.” “It would be very mean of you to refuse us.” “And then,” cried Malvina, “at the Rocher de Cancale! That’s the place to get a good dinner! I’m going to stuff myself, I am!” “Come, come, you must be one of us!” exclaimed Daréna.