"Sapristi! what in heaven's name does she like?" thought Dupont; and to console himself, he emptied his own glass at a draught.
But by dint of trying to maintain his aplomb, he became as red as his friend Jolibois; and when the champagne was brought, he left his chair and proposed to Georgette to dance the polka with him. She laughed in his face and sent him back to his seat. He filled a glass with champagne and offered it to the girl.
"Don't you like champagne either?" he asked.
"Oh, no! it has an effervescence, a sparkle, that arouses—— Does your wife like it?"
Dupont brought his fist down on the table, drank a glass of champagne, and cried:
"Upon my word, you're laughing at me! But you shall pay me for it! That calls for revenge, and I propose to avenge myself by kissing you."
As he spoke, he rose and rushed toward Georgette, and tried to put his arms about her. But she checked him with a firm hand.
"None of this nonsense, Monsieur Dupont," she said, "or I shall be seriously angry."
"What, dear angel! do you really mean to refuse me this?"
"I shall refuse you everything; you may be sure of that."