"Oh, yes! I see what it is--another confidence; she's going to tell him that it's a fine day to-day. I know the game now." After remaining some time, Bichette and her companion returned from Cythera; and some ladies noticed that the turban was somewhat out of place, and that Monsieur Bisbis did not know which leg to stand on--all of which did not prevent Monin from going to meet his wife and asking: "Is it nice, Bichette?" "What, monsieur?" "At Cythera." "Very nice, monsieur." This reply was accompanied by a wanton glance at Monsieur Bisbis, who scratched his nose longer than usual, while Monin approached him with his snuff-box, saying: "Do you take it too?" The games were interrupted by the punch, which Domingo passed around among the guests. He passed the salver to the ladies, who made a great to-do about taking a glass of punch, which they declared was too strong, although some of them partook a second time. The men crowded about Domingo and seized the punch on the wing. Monin ran after the platter, which had passed him several times; but he had not been able to capture a glass. At last, after following Domingo throughout his winding course among the guests, Monin succeeded in stopping him as he was returning to the dining-room. "One minute, negro!" he said, putting out his hand toward the salver. Domingo halted, muttering: "You want drink again?" "What's that? again!" cried Monin; "my word! he's a good one, he is! I haven't had a taste, and I'm very fond of punch." As he spoke Monin glanced at the salver: all the glasses were empty. The poor man was thunderstruck. "Me come again right away.--More punch, all hot," said Domingo, as he left the room; and Monin, for consolation, drew his snuff-box, and returned to the games, saying to himself: "I must try to catch him sooner than I did this time." Madame Monin, whom the trip to Cythera had made extremely warm, said to her husband when he returned to her side: "Go get me another glass of punch, Monsieur Monin; the one I had wasn't half full; I am sure that it's done on purpose so that they can pass it round oftener without making any more." "The negro has no more, Bichette; but he told me he'd come right back with some hot punch. So I----" "All right, that will do. Go away now; I believe this gentleman is coming to ask me to make the _pont d'amour_."