The master of the house walked away with the young woman. Monsieur Monin had taken off his hat and was about to offer Madame Destival his arm; but she, divining his purpose, vanished by another path, and the little man, having lost sight of her, decided to betake himself alone to the dining-room; but first he cast a last tender glance at the plum tree. They were seated at the table, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière was still in the study. "Tell him that we are going to have luncheon," said Monsieur Destival, "and that we're only waiting for him." Baptiste went up to the study and called through the door: "Luncheon is served, monsieur." "Very well, very well, I will come down," replied La Thomassinière, continuing to roll little balls of paper; "I have only one more note to write." The valet withdrew and reported the answer that was made to him. "What a terrible man he is with his notes!" said Madame Destival; "doesn't he have a moment to himself, even in the country?" "My husband?" replied the petite-maîtresse; "why, my dear love, he's a most insufferable creature with his endless writing! He is never ready at meal-time; and even when we have twenty persons to dinner, which happens quite often, I have to send for him three or four times." After making balls of paper for another five minutes, Monsieur de la Thomassinière concluded at last to go down to the dining-room. "I beg pardon, here I am! It wasn't my fault," he said as he took his seat; "you shouldn't have waited for me. You see, I happened to think about a certain speculation I am interested in.--Give me the wing of a chicken and a glass of claret; that is all I take in the morning.--Well, Athalie, have you devastated madame's flower garden?" Athalie, who ate quite heartily for a petite-maîtresse, answered with a laugh: "I have been doing what I chose, monsieur; you know perfectly well that it doesn't concern you." "That is true, madame, that is perfectly true. I supply the money, I pay the bills. Twelve hundred francs to a milliner seems a trifle expensive. But madame must have the best there is." "If you lose your temper, monsieur, the next bill will be twice as large." "You know well enough, madame, that when it's a question of giving you money, I never have to be asked twice. When one is rich, that's perfectly natural; we must help the tradesmen to make money; isn't that so, Destival?" "To be sure," replied his host, "I have the same feeling.--Well, what do you think of my claret? You don't say anything about it." "It is very fair; but I have some better than this, oh! much better! I will give you some when you come to my house, and you'll see." "And this cream--do you like it, madame?" "Very much," replied the petite-maîtresse. But Monsieur de la Thomassinière helped himself to three spoonfuls, saying: