"Have you the fidgets in your legs to-night, comte?" murmured young Monclair; "you do not seem to stay a second in one place." "You are mistaken; I stayed a very long time at the lansquenet table," rejoined Léodgard, curtly. "I' faith! my dear fellow, it is a delightful affair," said Sénange; "it is impossible to do things more handsomely or to entertain one's guests with more magnificence." "I am very glad if you have had an enjoyable evening," said Léodgard; and his brow lost a few of its wrinkles. "Vive Dieu! we should be most exacting if we did not think this supper perfectly exquisite; you did well to hire this little house, on my word! it seems to have been built expressly for parties of this sort." "But you have never shown us the whole of your house. If I am not mistaken, there is another wing at the rear of the courtyard; does no one go there?" "That is where I live," replied Léodgard, becoming serious once more; "but it is not arranged for the reception of company." "Moreover, it is the mysterious wing!" cried Camilla, laughingly. "If I wish to be allowed to go there, I must notify monsieur le comte a long while beforehand." "Hush, Camilla! a truce to your foolery!" said Léodgard, with a stern glance at the courtesan. "Upon my word, you are gallant to-night!--Don't expect me to take your part another time when people say that you no longer seem cheerful!" "Who said that?" "Never mind! I am going to enter the lists with Flavia to make the conquest of the Black Chevalier." Jarnonville had left the card table and had taken a seat in a less brilliantly lighted part of the room; but Mademoiselle Flavia, a young madcap with very eloquent eyes, bright and languorous in turn, soon seated herself beside him, and said: "What are you doing in this corner? you look as if you were sulking, and that is not what people come here for. Come, say something to me. Do you know that you are not at all gallant--you have not said a single word to one of these ladies to-night!" "As you see that I pay no attention to the ladies, why do you pay any attention to me?" retorted Jarnonville, meeting with absolute indifference the fire of the blonde Flavia's glances. "Why?--Why, my dear man, do you know nothing of women?--For the very reason that you pay no attention to us, that you seem to scorn to win our favors, I long to make your conquest--from a spirit of contradiction! We always desire what is not offered us.--What is the meaning of this mania for playing the bear at your time of life? Come, tell me your troubles." "You would not understand them!" "What a boor!--Mon Dieu! I can guess them: you have been betrayed by your wife or your mistress--it is always that that makes you men misanthropic." "I was sure that you would not understand me," said Jarnonville, rising; and he was about to turn away, when the dark-haired Camilla planted herself in front of him, with a smile on her face.