“On devient infidèle,
On court de belle en belle.”
A servant brought the Baronne a letter. It was from the Brécés, who enclosed a contribution to the charity and expressed their regrets that they would not be able to attend the fête, being obliged to go away before the 29th.
She handed the letter to her son, who smiled unpleasantly, and asked:
“What about the Courtrais?”
“They refused yesterday, and Madame Cartier de Chalmot as well.”
“The cats!”
“We shall have the Terremondres and the Gromances.”
“The deuce, it’s part of their business to come to our house.”
They reviewed the situation; it was unsatisfactory. Terremondre had not, as usual, promised to hunt up his cousins and his aunts and all the rest of the small gentry. The big manufacturers themselves seemed to be hesitating and seeking excuses for not coming. Young Bonmont concluded: