Volume Ii Part 55 (2/2)
Madame Droguet waltzed with the aplomb of a tower; she did not fall, but woe to those who collided with her! She and Monsieur Luminot, her partner, b.u.mped into and overthrew everyone who came in their path. The ex-dealer in wines had not allowed a salver of punch or champagne to pa.s.s him by without saying a word to it. The result was that he was purple; his eyes were starting from his head, and he seemed inclined to defy the whole world.
Edmond, after playing a few rubbers of whist, had taken his place at a lansquenet table, where he was not lucky. Croque did not lose sight of him, and when he left the lansquenet table, he accosted him, saying:
”I don't care for that game; you lose your money at it without a chance to defend yourself, without having even the pleasure of playing. I prefer ecarte, that's a game full of fine points. Does monsieur play it?”
”To be sure.”
”Would you like to play a few games? here's an unoccupied table.”
”I should be glad to; let us see if I shall be more fortunate at this game than the others.”
”You probably will, monsieur, for I lose at it all the time, which does not prevent my being very fond of it; but we always become attached to ingrates!”
Edmond seated himself at a card-table opposite Croque, who continued:
”I like to play rather high.”
”So do I.”
”Then we have the same tastes. Twenty francs--does that frighten you?
these little gold pieces are so convenient!”
”Twenty francs it is.”
The game began, and although the _soi-disant_ baron declared that he always lost at it, he won the first game and the next and all the rest, and the yellow boys flowed in his direction.
Edmond had lost more than a hundred francs; but he tried to recoup by increasing his stake, which suited his opponent perfectly.
”Monsieur,” he replied to every such suggestion, ”I am a bold player! I never refuse a man his revenge, and I cover whatever stake is proposed.”
Thelenie pa.s.sed through the card-room several times to see what was going on; finally she came again, but with several ladies. She had Madame Droguet on her arm; Mesdames Remplume and Jarnouillard, with others, came behind. They all seated themselves near the table at which Croque and Edmond were playing ecarte.
”I am not sorry to rest a little,” said the corpulent Droguet, sinking on a couch; ”we danced that whole waltz without stopping, didn't we, Beau Luminot?”
Beau Luminot, puffing noisily, had taken his stand behind the ladies. He wiped the perspiration from his forehead as he replied:
”I'm as wet as a dish-rag; but we waltzed like Flora and Zephyr.”
”Your husband is on edge, Madame de Belleville; he hasn't missed a dance yet.”
”He is simply doing his duty; a host should set the example; he has got to exhaust his list.”
”He may well be exhausted himself first. Are you ladies going to play cards?”
”Perhaps, neighbor, perhaps; we want to vary our pleasures.”
”I'll bet two sous, if anybody will cover them.”
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