rely shrugged her shoulders and treated him as one would a
fretful child. She was surprised, too, at his constant ill humor, and
said: "I do not understand you. You are always complaining. Your
position is excellent."

His only reply was to turn his back upon her. He declared that he would
not attend M. Walter's fete--that he would not cross the miserable
Jew's threshold. For two months Mme. Walter had written to him daily,
beseeching him to come to see her, to appoint a meeting where he would,
in order that she might give him the seventy thousand francs she had
made for him. He did not reply and threw her letters into the fire. Not
that he would have refused to accept his share of the profits, but he
enjoyed treating her scornfully, trampling her under foot; she was too
wealthy; he would be inflexible.

The day of the exhibition of the picture, as Madeleine chided him for
not going, he replied: "Leave me in peace. I shall remain at home."

After they had dined, he said suddenly, "I suppose I shall have to go
through with it. Get ready quickly."

"I shall be ready in fifteen minutes," she said.

As they entered the courtyard of the Hotel de Carlsbourg it was one
blaze of light. A magnificent carpet was spread upon the steps leading
to the entrance, and upon each one stood a man in livery, as rigid as
marble.

Du Roy's heart was torn with jealousy. He and his wife ascended the
steps and gave their wraps to the footmen who approached them.

At the entrance to the drawing-room, two children, one in pink, the
other in blue, handed bouquets to the ladies.

The rooms were already well filled. The majority of the ladies were in
street costumes, a proof that they came thither as they would go to any
exhibition. The few who intended to remain to the ball which was to
follow wore evening dress.

Mme. Walter, surrounded by friends, stood in the second salon and
received the visitors. Many did not know her, and walked through the
rooms as if in a museum--without paying any heed to the host and
hostess.

When Virginie perceived Du Roy, she grew livid and made a movement
toward him; then she paused and waited for him to advance. He bowed
ceremoniously, while Madeleine greeted her effusively. Georges left his
wife near Mme. Walter and mingled with the guests. Five drawing-rooms
opened one into the other; they were carpeted with rich, oriental rugs,
and upon their walls hung paintings by the old masters. As he made his
way