"Take care! You lost yesterday."
"Which is precisely the reason why, according to our contract, I now bid you rise and follow me at once."
"Follow you? Where to, in the name of fortune?"
"To the residence of the royal dames."
"Their houses are burning, it is a pretty sight still."
"I am not speaking of that defunct village, now turned into one vast furnace. We are hot enough already without going near the fire. I was alluding to this new shed, beneath which all these ladies await our coming."
"Are they not asleep by this time?"
"They dare not sleep," replied Delange, gravely. "I led them to expect a visit from us."
De Morin had finished his pipe by this time, and, always resigned and true to his word, he followed Delange. I followed suit, for I foresaw some amusement in assisting at a game of cards, which, considering where it was to take place, promised to be peculiar.
The Monbuttoo ladies, as the doctor had told us, were not asleep, and, as we drew near the shed, we heard a confused, continuous hum of many voices, as if they were complaining of the conduct of their royal spouse, whom they reproached with having treated them without due consideration.