"Two boxes! yes, just imagine it; two beautiful big boxes, each one for six persons! And so we have at once arranged with your father that you are to come—M. Spiegel as well, of course—I forgot to tell you that they are there—your father and M. Spiegel. M. de Clagny brought them with him."
"But three of us will be too many for you," began Jeanne.
"When I have just told you that there are twelve places! Come, now—Grandmamma and I, that makes two, and you three, that makes five; there are seven places over, and no one wants to come."
"The Rueilles?"
"Paul, but not Bertrade; that makes six. Neither Jean nor Henry are coming, nor Uncle Alexis either, and Pierrot has got into a scrape. Then there is M. de Clagny, and I thought of offering a place to M. Giraud, so that makes us eight altogether."
Mademoiselle Dubuisson did not speak, and Bijou went on:
"You do not care about spending this evening with us, or, rather, with me, and so you are trying to find a pretext?"
"Oh, no, I am not trying to find anything: besides, since it is all arranged with papa—"
"Yes, it is quite settled. I had invited M. de Bernès, too; but he makes out that he cannot come, because he is going with his friends."
"Where did you see M. de Bernès?"