But the young people--that is to say, the young ladies and some few men who were sensible enough to prefer their conversation to a game of cards--took refuge in Madame Destival's bedroom. Athalie also went thither, as did Dalville and other young men. They decided that cards should be barred out, and, in order to do something, someone proposed playing games. The suggestion was accepted, and they seated themselves in a circle. Madame Monin eagerly joined them and wanted to begin with "In my hole, in the common hole, and in my neighbor's hole!" which she described to the others by pointing her forefinger, with much dexterity, to the right and left and centre of the assemblage; but, despite the neat way in which Madame Monin put her finger in her neighbor's hole, the game was voted down, in favor of crambo, which requires the imposing of forfeits; although Madame Monin declared that it was too easy, and that her head was full of rhymes. But she ran short on the second round, because the others had said everything that she knew; so she looked at Monsieur Bisbis, and said: "Give me one." "I'm trying to think of one for myself," whispered Monsieur Bisbis. They soon tired of crambo, and a young lady having proposed blind-man's-buff seated, the gentlemen voted unanimously in favor of that game. The little school-girl began; she recognized the third person in whose lap she sat--her young cousin, who had come after dinner. After him came the turn of the tall man with spectacles, who seated himself cautiously on the ladies' laps, saying: "Hum! hum! I'll bet I can guess. Hum! hum! I know who it is. Parbleu! if I could use my hands it would be too easy." However, he sat down upon the whole party without guessing; luckily Madame Monin remained and she was readily recognizable. Enchanted to have been caught, Madame Monin allowed herself to be bandaged, and hurled herself recklessly at the circle. At the first onslaught her weight crushed a young dandy, who cried: "Name me, madame, name me, I beg you!" "One moment, monsieur; you're in a terrible hurry," said Madame Monin, trying to find something by which to recognize him. "Get off me, madame, I can't stand it any longer!" cried the young man, turning purple. "It seems to me, monsieur, that you're not so much to be pitied, having me on your knees." "I am suffocating, madame." The buxom dame persisted; but as everybody dreaded to receive her on his knees, it was proposed to draw forfeits at once, despite the remonstrances of Madame Monin, who was determined to sit on Monsieur Bisbis's lap, although he swore that he had nothing to identify him.