d began to hum
over a very risky song, which she accompanied without difficulty. Gaston
knew the song, and they gave a sort of duet.

"Don't sing those beastly things," I said to Marguerite, imploringly.

"Oh, how proper you are!" she said, smiling and giving me her hand. "It
is not for myself, but for you."

Marguerite made a gesture as if to say, "Oh, it is long since that I
have done with propriety!" At that moment Nanine appeared.

"Is supper ready?" asked Marguerite. "Yes, madame, in one moment."

"Apropos," said Prudence to me, "you have not looked round; come, and I
will show you." As you know, the drawing-room was a marvel.

Marguerite went with us for a moment; then she called Gaston and went
into the dining-room with him to see if supper was ready.

"Ah," said Prudence, catching sight of a little Saxe figure on a
side-table, "I never knew you had this little gentleman."

"Which?"

"A little shepherd holding a bird-cage."

"Take it, if you like it."

"I won't deprive you of it."

"I was going to give it to my maid. I think it hideous; but if you like
it, take it."

Prudence only saw the present, not the way in which it was given. She
put the little figure on one side, and took me into the dressing-room,
where she showed me two miniatures hanging side by side, and said:

"That is the Comte de G., who was very much in love with Marguerite; it
was he who brought her out. Do you know him?"

"No. And this one?" I inquired, pointing to the other miniature.

"That is the little Vicomte de L. He was obliged to disappear."

"Why?"

"Because he was all but ruined. That's one, if you like, who loved
Marguerite."

"And she loved him, too, no doubt?"

"She is such a queer girl, one never knows. The night he went away
she went to the theatre as usual, and yet she had cried when he said
good-bye to her."

Just then Nanine appeared, to tell us that supper was served.

When we entered the dining-room, Marguerite was leaning against the
wall, and Gaston, holding her hands, was speaking to her in a low voice.

"You are mad," replied Marguerite. "You know quite well that I don't
want you. It is no good at the end of two years to make love to a woman
like me. With us, it is at once, or never. Come, gentlemen, supper!"

And, slipping away from Gaston, Marguerite made him sit on her right at
table, me on her left, then called to Nanine:

"Before you sit down, tell them in the kitchen not to open to an