One of the three sisters had the forfeits wrapped in the skirt of her dress. A young officer put in his hand to draw, and spent a very long time mixing them up, so that there should be no cheating. Athalie directed operations. She told the young officer to draw; but he evidently had some difficulty in getting hold, for he was a long time deciding to remove his hand from its hiding-place in the folds of the young lady's dress. At last the forfeit was brought forth; it belonged to the school-girl, and she was told to tell somebody something in confidence. She hesitated, uncertain to whom she should turn, or rather because she was afraid to select her little cousin, at whom she glanced furtively, with a blush. But her mamma was there, so she chose Monsieur Monin for her confidant. Monin, who had slipped behind his wife's chair, was amazed when the girl said to him: "Will you come with me, monsieur?" The ex-druggist did not know what to do, so he leaned over his better half and whispered: "Shall I go with her, Bichette?" "Greatly to be pitied, aren't you, for being chosen to receive a young lady's confidence!" rejoined Madame Monin, smiling at Monsieur Bisbis. Whereupon Monin allowed the girl to take his hand and lead him to a corner of the salon, where she whispered in his ear: "It's been a very fine day, monsieur." Monin stared at the young lady with a dazed expression. "What must I answer?" said he. "Nothing," was the reply. And the girl returned to her place, while Monin found his way back to his wife, saying to the people about him: "It's a pretty game! I didn't know that I knew how to play it." The next forfeit was Athalie's. She was condemned to _sulk_, and all the men sulked with her; and while sulking, Dalville obtained an assignation. A very pretty thing, these innocent games! Well-brought-up young ladies are forbidden to waltz, but they are permitted to give or receive confidences, to hide with a young man, or to wait in a little dark closet until the concierge of the convent is relieved; and there are always kisses to be given and received in corners, secretly, behind curtains. If I ever have a daughter, I shall allow her to waltz in my presence, but forbid her to play _innocent_ games. The spectacled man was condemned to pay a compliment without using the letter _a_. After scratching his forehead, he stepped into the middle of the circle and said with a satisfied air: "_La femme est le chef-d'oeuvre du monde_." The next forfeit was Madame Monin's, who was told to take a trip to Cythera. She sprang to her feet and offered her hand to Monsieur Bisbis, saying: "Come and travel with me." The stout man submitted to be led into a small study, the door of which Madame Monin closed behind them, and Monsieur Monin, observing the manoeuvre, said to one of his neighbors: "What are they going to do in there?" "They're in Cythera."