The young girl laid her hand on it but avoided his eyes, disdainfully turning her head away. They walked to the drawing-room without a word. Gerald multiplied his courteous, deferential attitudes; he drew in his chest and gave all the signs of a well-bred man of the world who knew that he was at fault and exonerated himself silently. He escorted her to Mme. Raindal and softly withdrew his arm. "Mademoiselle!" He bowed with much ceremony and directed his steps towards the smoking-room. Thérèse could not prevent herself from watching him. The balancing of his tall frame on his bent legs gave him the relieved, weary gait of a man who has just come down from his horse, or of one who has accomplished an imposed task. Outside the smoking-room he took Mazuccio familiarly by the shoulders to make him pass in front; she heard them still laughing behind the old tapestry portière--a mysterious throaty laugh which even at a distance had an obscene sound. "Well, dear?" M. Raindal murmured, as he approached in short and somewhat heavy steps. "How was the dinner?" "Excellent," Thérèse replied coldly, and sat down to the right of her mother. "I am delighted that we came...." "That is what I thought," M. Raindal continued softly, mistaking his daughter's tone. "This Mme. Chambannes entertains people in the most perfect fashion.... Now ... you agree that I was right not to let myself be stopped by certain prejudices, certain preconceived ideas!..." This allusion caused Mme. Raindal to blush suddenly, but Thérèse, a sneer on her lips, whispered: "Why, surely, father, I told you.... These people improve very much on closer acquaintance...." M. Raindal turned round. Mme. Chambannes was calling him away to offer him some coffee. At the other end of the drawing-room little Mme. Pums and tall Mme. de Marquesse were holding each other by the waist and exchanged joyful secrets concerning the use they had made of their afternoon. Their outward contrast brought out all the more the best points of each. One guessed that they shared the same tastes and the same aptitudes, everything they needed to take part in full agreement in some party of four, especially with two pleasant men of corresponding height. Still linked together they marched through the room. Mme. de Marquesse pulled aside the curtain of the smoking-room; joyful exclamations greeted the graceful pair. They went in altogether and the shouts increased. These gentlemen were not ungrateful.