what child's play! You
are not going to pick a quarrel about that girl, I hope."

"That girl has nothing to do with it, and I have no intention of picking
a quarrel. I am not a bully nor a fire-eater. I simply wish to make a
point that a gentleman must."

"Oh, damn your point!" said Newman. "That is the trouble with you
Frenchmen; you must be always making points. Well," he added, "be short.
But if you are going in for this kind of thing, we must ship you off to
America in advance."

"Very good," Valentin answered, "whenever you please. But if I go to
America, I must not let this gentleman suppose that it is to run away
from him."

And they separated. At the end of the act Newman observed that Valentin
was still in the baignoire. He strolled into the corridor again,
expecting to meet him, and when he was within a few yards of
Mademoiselle Nioche's box saw his friend pass out, accompanied by
the young man who had been seated beside its fair occupant. The two
gentlemen walked with some quickness of step to a distant part of the
lobby, where Newman perceived them stop and stand talking. The manner
of each was perfectly quiet, but the stranger, who looked flushed, had
begun to wipe his face very emphatically with his pocket-handkerchief.
By this time Newman was abreast of the baignoire; the door had been
left ajar, and he could see a pink dress inside. He immediately went in.
Mademoiselle Nioche turned and greeted him with a brilliant smile.

"Ah, you have at last decided to come and see me?" she exclaimed. "You
just save your politeness. You find me in a fine moment. Sit down."
There was a very becoming little flush in her cheek, and her eye had a
noticeable spark. You would have said that she had received some very
good news.

"Something has happened here!" said Newman, without sitting down.

"You find me in a very fine moment," she repeated. "Two gentlemen--one
of them is M. de Bellegarde, the pleasure of whose acquaintance I owe to
you--have just had words about your humble servant. Very big words too.
They can't come off without crossing swords. A duel--that will give me
a push!" cried Mademoiselle Noemie clapping her little hands. "C'est ca
qui pose une femme!"

"You don't mean to say that Bellegarde is going to fight about YOU!"
exclaimed Newman, disgustedly.

"Nothing else!" and she looked at him with a hard little smile. "No,
no, you are not galant! And if you prevent this affair I shall owe you a
grudg