Part 29 (1/2)

”You are getting to be a terrible fellow, Monsieur de Mousseraud!” said Darena; ”however, if your conquests are pretty, accept my congratulations.”

”Four of them are enchanting, two very nice, and one pa.s.sable. But I shall let the last three go; I intend to keep only the first quality.”

”What's that! can you let a mistress go?” inquired Cherubin with a surprised expression.

”I say, marquis, where have you come from? One would think, to hear you, that you are a novice in love; whereas monsieur le comte a.s.sures us that you are his pupil. That would not do him credit.”

Darena emptied his gla.s.s and cried:

”Do you mean to say that you believe our young Adonis? Don't you see that he's making sport of you--a man who keeps a damsel three days at most? He takes us all in with his little innocent expression! And if he deceives us men, tell me whether the women are not likely to fall into his toils?”

”Monsieur Cherubin is favored in every respect,” said Oscar.

”Monsieur is not the only one!” rejoined tall Mousseraud, with a conceited air; ”I only say this, because it's a fact, but, on my word of honor, I have never met a woman who could resist me.”

”Oh! that's not surprising with you!” retorted Oscar, in a mocking tone; ”you have such an ardent nature--anyone can see that from the color of your hair.”

”What do you mean by that?” demanded the tall young man, while his cheeks became as red as his locks. ”Do you dare to say that I have red hair?”

”It seems to me that there is no need for me to say so.”

”Come, come, messieurs; are we going to quarrel?” said Darena. ”We met here to breakfast, to laugh and talk nonsense; and we lose our temper, and sulk! That is most execrable form--and all about a matter of hair!

Mon Dieu! I wish that mine were red; I should be delighted! It is much less common in France than dark or fair hair. And it proves too that the hair is not dyed.--Fill my gla.s.s, Oscar, and you, de Mousseraud, serve what is on that dish.”

”Yes, yes!” cried Cherubin; ”instead of losing your temper, tell me what you do with your seven mistresses?”

”Parbleu! what you do with yours, I presume.”

”I? Why, I haven't----” A glance from Darena checked Cherubin, and he continued: ”I don't do anything at all with mine.”

”In that case they must play some amusing tricks on you.”

”I,” said Oscar, ”have a fascinating little grisette just now; I give her a cap every week and a dress every month, and she is perfectly satisfied.”

”Among my seven mistresses,” said Mousseraud, ”there is an Englishwoman who costs me a lot of money; but she is an admirable creature!”

”What a braggart he is with his seven mistresses! He reminds me of Blue Beard. Take them all out walking some day--you'll look like a boarding-school master.”

”I give women nothing but my heart now,” said Darena; ”and they are much more fond of me since I put them on that diet.”

”And you, Cherubin, do you squander money on your charmers?”

”I--I don't know--that depends,” stammered Cherubin, playing with his knife.

”Really, you are too close-mouthed,” said Mousseraud; ”one can get nothing out of you.”

Cherubin, who was much embarra.s.sed by the turn that the conversation had taken, drew his watch, pretending that he had an appointment.

While he was looking at the time, Oscar Chopinard, who was beside him, examined his watch.

”It's very pretty, very thin, isn't it?” asked Cherubin, holding the watch for his neighbor to see.