a trifle diffuse, and of a simplicity which sometimes provokes a smile. Noisily he called to his wife:
"Marthe, my love, here is some one who has not yet heard that Du Fau has lost his amethyst."
And turning to me:
"Why, it is quite a story. Would you believe it? Our friend had absolutely forsaken us. I used to say to my wife: 'What have you done to Du Fan?' She would reply: 'What have I done? Why nothing, my love.' It was incomprehensible. But our astonishment doubled when we heard that he was always with that poor Madame Cère."
Madame N—— interrupted her husband: "What has that got to do with it?"
But N—— insisted:
"Excuse me, my love! But I must mention it in order to explain the history of the amethyst. Well, this summer our friend Du Fau refused to come with us to the country as he had been in the habit of doing. My wife and I had given him a very hearty invitation. But he remained at Trouville, with his cousin de Maureil, in very dull society."
Madame N—— protested.
"It is true," repeated N——, "very dull society. He spent his time going out in a boat with Madame Cère."
