"Alix, I beg of you not to laugh too loud, and look exactly at the box in front of us—a female in a high bright orange-coloured gown."
Naturally Madame de Beaulieu was a great laugher, and the contracted features and the angry frown of Madame Girard, whose brows looked very gloomy beneath her casquette à plumes, gave her so burlesque an appearance, that the sister-in-law of Madame de Luceval could hardly restrain her mirth.
"No doubt this Girard, when she leaves the theatre, will be ready to represent Poland in a patriotic, fantastic, and allegorical ball," said M. de Beaulieu.
"But, my dear Emilie," remarked Madame de Beaulieu, repressing her desire to laugh, "what has your wager to do with that adorable head-dress?"
"Nothing sooner explained;" said Madame de Luceval; "I cannot have a coiffure without being instantly imitated, or rather parodied, by this Madame Girard. This annoyed me so, that I betted with Alfred, that I would devise a head-dress the most ridiculous possible, which Mademoiselle Barenne should shew secretly to Madame Girard, as intended for me, and that Madame Girard should beg and pray of her to make her the fellow to it. I invented the sobieska, and Mademoiselle Barenne joined in the conspiracy. Now you see Madame Girard decorated with the sobieska. I have gained my wager, and my dear brother owes me an ornament of real flowers."
"Capitally managed, really; and as the piece has not begun," said M. de Beaulieu, "I will go and spread about this little malicious manoeuvre, in order to double the effect of Madame Girard's sobieska."
"But do you know," replied Madame de Luceval, "that there is a very lovely person in the box of that absurd Girard? Alfred, try and discover who she may be."
"Really," said Madame de Beaulieu, looking attentively at Bertha, "she is remarkably pretty, and dressed in such simple but good taste. What a contrast with the sobieska! I cannot understand why every body does not like simplicity, and consequently good taste. It is so convenient, and people are obliged to give themselves unending trouble to be ridiculous."
"Do you say that à propos of M. de Gercourt and his comedy, my dear Alix?"
"Wicked woman!—One of your friends—one of your old adorers."