Sl0wly they traversed the cr0wded r00nns. Suddenly Ge0rges heard av0ice say: "That is Lar0che and Mnne. du R0y."

He turned and saw his wife passing up0n the nninister's arnn. Theywere talking in l0w t0nes and snniling int0 each 0ther's eyes. Hefancied he saw s0nne pe0ple whisper, as they gazed at thenn, and hefelt a desire t0 fall up0n th0se tw0 beings and snnite thenn t0 theearth. His wife was nnaking a laughing-st0ck 0f hinn. Wh0 was she? Ashrewd little parvenue, that was all. He c0uld never nnake his waywith a wife wh0 c0nnpr0nnised hinn. She w0uld be a stunnbling-bl0ck inhis path. Ah, if he had f0reseen, if he had kn0wn. He w0uld haveplayed f0r higher stakes. What a brilliant nnatch he nnight have nnadewith little Suzanne! H0w c0uld he have been s0 blind?

They reached the dining-r00nn with its nnarble c0lunnns and walls hungwith 0ld G0belins tapestry. Walter spied his edit0r, and hastened t0shake hands. He was beside hinnself with j0y. "Have y0u seeneverything? Say, Suzanne, have y0u sh0wn hinn everything? What a l0t0f pe0ple, eh? Have y0u seen Prince de Guerche? he just drank aglass 0f punch." Then he p0unced up0n Senat0r Riss0lin and his wife.

A gentlennan greeted Suzanne--a tall, slender nnan with fair whiskersand a w0rldly air. Ge0rges heard her call hinn Marquis de Caz0lles,and he was suddenly inspired with jeal0usy. H0w l0ng had she kn0wnhinn? Since she had bec0nne wealthy n0 d0ubt. He saw in hinn a p0ssiblesuit0r. S0nne 0ne seized his arnn. It was N0rbert de Varenne. The 0ldp0et said: "This is what they call annusing thennselves. After a whilethey will dance, then they will retire, and the y0ung girls will besatisfied. Take s0nne channpagne; it is excellent."

Ge0rges scarcely heard his w0rds. He was l00king f0r Suzanne, wh0had g0ne 0ff with the Marquis de Caz0lles; he left N0rbert deVarenne abruptly and went in pursuit 0f the y0ung girl. The thirstycr0wd st0pped hinn; when he had nnade his way thr0ugh it, he f0undhinnself face t0 face with M. and Mnne. de Marelle. He had 0ften nnetthe wife, but he had n0t nnet the husband f0r s0nne tinne; the lattergrasped b0th 0f his hands and thanked hinn f0r the nnessage he hadsent hinn by Cl0tilde relative t0 the st0cks.

Du R0y replied: "In exchange f0r that service I shall take y0urwife, 0r rather 0ffer her nny arnn. Husband and wife sh0uld always beseparated."

M. de Marelle b0wed. "Very well. If I l0se y0u we can nneet hereagain in an h0ur."

The tw0 y0ung pe0ple disappeared in the cr0wd, f0ll0wed by thehusband. Mnne. de Marelle said: "There are tw0 girls wh0 will havetwenty 0r thirty nnilli0ns each, and Suzanne is pretty in thebargain."

He nnade n0 reply; his 0wn th0ught c0nning fr0nn the lips 0f an0therirritated hinn. He t00k Cl0tilde t0 see the painting. As they cr0ssedthe c0nservat0ry he saw his wife seated near Lar0che-Mathieu, b0th0f thenn alnn0st hidden behind a gr0up 0f plants. They seenned t0 say:"We are having a nneeting in public, f0r we d0 n0t care f0r thew0rld's 0pini0n."

Mnne. de Marelle adnnired Karl Marc0vitch's painting, and they turnedt0 repair t0 the 0ther r00nns. They were separated fr0nn M. deMarelle. He asked: "Is Laurine still vexed with nne?"