I came here to ask Eugenie to do me a service." "She can easily do that, madame.

Eugenie is very rich," replied du Tillet, with concealed sarcasm.
"Is she ?" replied the countess, smiling bitterly.
"How much do you want ?" asked du Tillet, who was not sorry to get his sister-in-law into his meshes.
"Ah, monsieur! but I have told you already we do not wish to let our husbands into this affair," said Madame de Vandenesse, cautiously,--aware that if she took his money, she would put herself at the mercy of the man whose portrait Eugenie had fortunately drawn for her not ten minutes earlier.

"I will come to-morrow and talk with Eugenie." "To-morrow ?" said the banker.

"No; Madame du Tillet dines to-morrow with a future peer of France, the Baron de Nucingen, who is to leave me his place in the Chamber of Deputies." "Then permit her to join me in my box at the Opera," said the countess, without even glancing at her sister, so much did she fear that Eugenie's candor would betray them.
"She has her own box, madame," said du Tillet, nettled.
"Very good; then I will go to hers," replied the countess.
"It will be the first time you have done us that honor," said du Tillet.
The countess felt the sting of that reproach, and began to laugh.
"Well, never mind; you shall not be made to pay anything this time.
Adieu, my darling." "She is an insolent woman," said du Tillet, picking up the flowers that had fallen on the carpet.

"You ought," he said to his wife, "to study Madame de Vandenesse.