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By Root 1425 0

quite a fool whenever he had a hankering after a woman; and he wanted them all. One could never appear at a theatre but he secured her, no matter at what price. The most incredible amounts were mentioned. Twice during his life had his furious appetite for the fair sex ruined him. As Vandeuvres said, the women avenged morality in emptying his coffers. A grand transaction in shares of the saltworks of the Landes having restored him his position on the Bourse,ag the Mignons, for six weeks past, had been having a rare nibble at the profits. But now bets were freely made that it wouldn’t be the Mignons who would finish them, for Nana was showing her white teeth. Once again Steiner was hooked, and so securely that, seated beside Nana, he looked quite dumbfounded, eating without the least appetite, his under lip hanging down, and his face a mass of blotches. She had only to fix a sum. Yet she did not hurry herself, but played with him, blowing little laughs into his hairy ear, and amusing herself with the sight of the spasms which now and again passed over his fat face. It would be quite time enough to land him, if really that uncivil beast Count Muffat was going to play at being joseph.ah

“Léoville or Chambertin?”ai murmured a waiter, thrusting his head in between Nana and Steiner, just as the latter was whispering to the young woman.

“Eh! what!” he stammered, quite bewildered. “What you like, I don’t care.”

Vandeuvres nudged Lucy Stewart, who was noted for saying unpleasant things, and having a most fiendish temper whenever put out about anything; and Mignon’s behaviour all the evening had quite exasperated her.

“You know he would even go and hold the candle,” said she to the count. “He hopes to do the same as he did with young Jonquier. You recollect Jonquier, who was with Rose, and who took a fancy to tall Laure. Mignon went and arranged everything with Laure for Jonquier, and then he brought him back, arm-in-arm, to Rose, like a husband who had been allowed to go on a spree. But this time it won’t do. Nana is not one to return the men who are lent her.”

“Whatever is Mignon looking at his wife in that angry way for?” asked Vandeuvres.

He leant forward a little, and noticed that Rose was getting very sweet on Fauchery. That explained to him why his neighbour had spoken in such a spiteful manner. He resumed with a laugh, “The devil! are you jealous?”

“Jealous!” repeated Lucy, furious. “Ah, well! if Rose wants Léon, I give him to her freely. He isn’t worth much! One bouquet a week, and that not always! Look you, my boy, all those theatre-girls are the same. Rose wept with rage when she read Léon’s article on Nana, I know it for certain. So, you see, she also must have an article, and she’s earning it. As for me, I’ll kick Léon out of my place, you bet!” She stopped to tell a waiter standing behind her with his two bottles, “Léoville,” then, lowering her voice, she resumed, “I’m not going to kick up a fuss, it’s not my way; but she’s a dirty hussy all the same. If I were her husband, I’d lead her a fine dance. Oh! this won’t bring her any luck. She doesn’t know my Fauchery, a dirty fellow, he too, who sticks to a woman simply to improve his position in the world. They’re a fine lot!”

Vandeuvres tried to calm her. Bordenave, abandoned by Rose and by Lucy, was fast losing his temper, and kept calling out that every one was letting papa die of hunger and thirst. This caused a happy diversion. The supper was becoming interminable ; almost every one had left off eating, but the champagne, that many of the guests had been drinking ever since the soup, was gradually animating them with a nervous intoxication. They began to be more free in their behaviour; the women put their elbows on the table, now all in disorder, the men, to breathe more at ease, leant back in their chairs, and the black coats mingled in still closer proximity with the gay-coloured dresses, whilst naked shoulders, turned sideways to the light, had a gloss like silk. It was a great deal too warm, the light from the candles became yellower still, and the atmosphere