me Evangelista assigned to hypocrisy the natural embarrassment of
Paul, who was unwilling to take the jewels, and not knowing where to
put the cases, longed to fling them from the window. Madame Evangelista
spurred him with a glance which seemed to say, "Take your property from
here."

"Dear Natalie," said Paul, "put away these jewels; they are yours; I
give them to you."

Natalie locked them into the drawer of a console. At this instant the
noise of the carriages in the court-yard and the murmur of voices in the
receptions-rooms became so loud that Natalie and her mother were forced
to appear. The salons were filled in a few moments, and the fete began.

"Profit by the honeymoon to sell those diamonds," said the old notary to
Paul as he went away.

While waiting for the dancing to begin, whispers went round about the
marriage, and doubts were expressed as to the future of the promised
couple.

"Is it finally arranged?" said one of the leading personages of the town
to Madame Evangelista.

"We had so many documents to read and sign that I fear we are rather
late," she replied; "but perhaps we are excusable."

"As for me, I heard nothing," said Natalie, giving her hand to her lover
to open the ball.

"Both of those young persons are extravagant, and the mother is not of a
kind to check them," said a dowager.

"But they have founded an entail, I am told, worth fifty thousand francs
a year."

"Pooh!"

"In that I see the hand of our worthy Monsieur Mathias," said a
magistrate. "If it is really true, he has done it to save the future of
the family."

"Natalie is too handsome not to be horribly coquettish. After a couple
of years of marriage," said one young woman, "I wouldn't answer for
Monsieur de Manerville's happiness in his home."

"The Pink of Fashion will then need staking," said Solonet, laughing.

"Don't you think Madame Evangelista looks annoyed?" asked another.

"But, my dear, I have just been told that all she is able to keep is
twenty-five thousand francs a year, and what is that to her?"

"Penury!"

"Yes, she has robbed herself for Natalie. Monsieur de Manerville has
been so exacting--"

"Extremely exacting," put in Maitre Solonet. "But before long he will be
peer of France. The Maulincours and the Vidame de Pamiers will use their
influence. He belongs to the faubourg Saint-Germain."

"Oh! he is received there, and that is all," said a lady, who had
tried to obtain him as a son-in-law.