“ M. de Vauversin⁠—Madame Fontaine et M. Robinet⁠—Les plongeurs à cheval⁠—Le Mari mécontent⁠—Tais-toi, gamin⁠—Mon voisin l’original⁠—Heureux comme ça⁠—Comme on est trompé.”

They made a stage at one end of the salle-à-manger. And what a sight it was to see M. de Vauversin, with a cigarette in his mouth, twanging a guitar, and following Mademoiselle Ferrario’s eyes with the obedient, kindly look of a dog! The entertainment wound up with a tombola, or auction of lottery tickets: an admirable amusement, with all the excitement of gambling, and no hope of gain to make you ashamed of your eagerness; for there, all is loss; you make haste to be out of pocket; it is a competition who shall lose most money for the benefit of M. de Vauversin and Mademoiselle Ferrario.