rneffe, since the suppression of the public tables, was quite
satisfied with the more limited opportunities of private play.

Baron Hulot went quickly up to Lisbeth's apartment, but the door was
locked, and the usual inquiries through the door took up time enough to
enable the two light-handed and cunning women to arrange the scene of an
attack of indigestion with the accessories of tea. Lisbeth was in such
pain that Valerie was very much alarmed, and consequently hardly paid
any heed to the Baron's furious entrance. Indisposition is one of the
screens most often placed by women to ward off a quarrel. Hulot peeped
about, here and there, but could see no spot in Cousin Betty's room
where a Brazilian might lie hidden.

"Your indigestion does honor to my wife's dinner, Lisbeth," said he,
scrutinizing her, for Lisbeth was perfectly well, trying to imitate the
hiccough of spasmodic indigestion as she drank her tea.

"How lucky it is that dear Betty should be living under my roof!" said
Madame Marneffe. "But for me, the poor thing would have died."

"You look as if you only half believed it," added Lisbeth, turning to
the Baron, "and that would be a shame----"

"Why?" asked the Baron. "Do you know the purpose of my visit?"

And he leered at the door of a dressing-closet from which the key had
been withdrawn.

"Are you talking Greek?" said Madame Marneffe, with an appealing look of
misprized tenderness and devotedness.

"But it is all through you, my dear cousin; yes, it is your doing that I
am in such a state," said Lisbeth vehemently.

This speech diverted the Baron's attention; he looked at the old maid
with the greatest astonishment.

"You know that I am devoted to you," said Lisbeth. "I am here, that says
everything. I am wearing out the last shreds of my strength in watching
over your interests, since they are one with our dear Valerie's. Her
house costs one-tenth of what any other does that is kept on the same
scale. But for me, Cousin, instead of two thousand francs a month, you
would be obliged to spend three or four thousand."

"I know all that," replied the Baron out of patience; "you are our
protectress in many ways," he added, turning to Madame Marneffe and
putting his arm round her neck.--"Is not she, my pretty sweet?"

"On my honor," exclaimed Valerie, "I believe you are gone mad!"

"Well, you cannot doubt my attachment," said Lisbeth. "But I am also
very fond of my cousin Adeline, and I found her