"But it is really stifling!" she exclaimed, dropping into an
arm-chair by the table as her partner retired. "Monsieur does
not dance, apparently," she continued, addressing Horace.
"Well, you are perhaps right; it is a delightful amusement,
but on a night like this---- Ah! here is little Madelon. I have
not seen you before to-day. How is it you are not dancing?"
"I don't want to," answered the child, giving the roulette-
board a twirl.
"But that is not at all a pretty game that you have there,"
said the Countess, shaking her head; "it was not for little
girls that Mademoiselle Cecile placed the roulette-board
there. Where is your doll? why are you not playing with her?"
"My doll is in bed; and I like this best," answered the child
indifferently. "_Encore ce malheureux trente-six! Je n'ai pas
de chance ce soir!_"
"But little girls should not like what is naughty: and I think
it would be much better if you were in bed too. Come, give me
that ugly toy; there is Monsieur quite shocked to see you
playing with it."
Madelon looked up into Horace's face with her wide-open gaze,
as if to verify this wonderful assertion; and apparently
satisfied that it had been made for the sake of effect,
continued her game without making any reply.
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