What were we saying ?" "We were making a pact of amity and friendship." "Well! it doesn't look much like it now, Monsieur de Lucan!" "Madam ?" "You seem positively angry with me because I fainted." "Of course I am.

In the first place, I don't like that sort of adventures, and then, it is wholly your own fault; you are so imprudent, so unreasonable!" "Oh! mon Dieu! Don't you want a switch ?" And as the lights of the chateau were coming into sight: "_Apropos_, don't trouble mother with any of that nonsense, will you ?" "Certainly not; you may rest easy on that score." "You are just as cross as you can be, you know ?" "Probably I am; but I have just spent there a few minutes so very painful." "I pity you with all my heart," said Julia, dryly.
She threw off her vail in the vestibule, and returned to the parlor.
The Baroness de Pers, who was to leave early the next day, had already retired.

Julia performed some four-handed pieces on the piano with her mother.

Monsieur de Lucan took the place of the "dummy" at the whist table, and the evening ended quietly..