"I have to dine at home with my mother, who was rather poorly this morning." "Oh! a sensible woman like your mother will readily understand that there are matters of exceptional importance.

Go home and excuse yourself.

Tell her some story, tell her that a friend's happiness is in question." And as Gerard began to weaken, Duvillard added: "The fact is, that I really want you, my dear fellow; I must have a society man.

Society, you know, is a great force in theatrical matters; and if Silviane has society with her, her triumph is certain." Gerard promised, and then chatted for a moment with his uncle, General de Bozonnet, who was quite enlivened by that throng of women, among whom he had been carried hither and thither like an old rudderless ship.

After acknowledging the amiability with which Madame Fonsegue had listened to his stories, by purchasing an autograph of Monseigneur Martha from her for a hundred francs, he had quite lost himself amid the bevy of girls who had passed him on, one to another.