of him since the beginning of supper, and if Mignon was not
pleased it would teach him greater wisdom!

"You are not going to fight?" said Vandeuvres, coming over to Lucy
Stewart.

"No, don't be afraid of that! Only she must mind and keep quiet, or I
let the cat out of the bag!"

Then signing imperiously to Fauchery:

"I've got your slippers at home, my little man. I'll get them taken to
your porter's lodge for you tomorrow."

He wanted to joke about it, but she swept off, looking like a queen.
Clarisse, who had propped herself against a wall in order to drink
a quiet glass of kirsch, was seen to shrug her shoulders. A pleasant
business for a man! Wasn't it true that the moment two women were
together in the presence of their lovers their first idea was to do
one another out of them? It was a law of nature! As to herself, why, in
heaven's name, if she had wanted to she would have torn out Gaga's eyes
on Hector's account! But la, she despised him! Then as La Faloise passed
by, she contented herself by remarking to him:

"Listen, my friend, you like 'em well advanced, you do! You don't want
'em ripe; you want 'em mildewed!"

La Faloise seemed much annoyed and not a little anxious. Seeing Clarisse
making game of him, he grew suspicious of her.

"No humbug, I say," he muttered. "You've taken my handkerchief. Well
then, give it back!"

"He's dreeing us with that handkerchief of his!" she cried. "Why, you
ass, why should I have taken it from you?"

"Why should you?" he said suspiciously. "Why, that you may send it to my
people and compromise me."

In the meantime Foucarmont was diligently attacking the liqueurs. He
continued to gaze sneeringly at Labordette, who was drinking his coffee
in the midst of the ladies. And occasionally he gave vent to fragmentary
assertions, as thus: "He's the son of a horse dealer; some say the
illegitimate child of a countess. Never a penny of income, yet always
got twenty-five louis in his pocket! Footboy to the ladies of the town!
A big lubber, who never goes with any of 'em! Never, never, never!" he
repeated, growing furious. "No, by Jove! I must box his ears."

He drained a glass of chartreuse. The chartreuse had not the slightest
effect upon him; it didn't affect him "even to that extent," and he
clicked his thumbnail against the edge of his teeth. But suddenly, just
as he was advancing upon Labordette, he grew ashy white and fell down in
a heap in front of the sideboard. He w