Meanwhile, from one end of the room to the other, the guests were saying:
"The man in the plaid trousers is dancing the cancan with Aunt Merlin; it's most amusing!"
Some of the couples ceased dancing, in order to watch the performance of Aunt Merlin and her partner. The uproar soon reached the ears of Monsieur Blanquette, the uncle; the bride's mother, a most respectable woman, said to him:
"I beg you, Monsieur Blanquette, go and tell my sister not to dance the cancan. Everybody here is laughing at her, and she doesn't notice it. Oh! what a mistake you made in inviting that tall man with the red face!"
"Mon Dieu! madame, I assure you that I didn't invite him. He's a man who owes me money—whom I knew when he was rich and well-dressed.—He has ruined himself completely. He caught sight of me this morning, when we were getting out of the carriages; and to-night he takes the liberty of coming to our ball. I didn't dare tell him to leave—because, you understand, that's an embarrassing thing to do. But if he presumes to dance indecently—why, then I shan't hesitate."
Monsieur Blanquette walked toward the quadrille which caused such a prodigious sensation. Cherami was in the act of executing the chaloupe with his partner, who continued to second him as best she could. The bridegroom's uncle sidled up behind her, and said in an undertone:
"Don't dance like that, Madame Merlin, I beg you; that's the way they dance at low dance-halls. Decent people don't make such exhibitions of themselves in a salon."
"It seems to me that I am dancing very well, monsieur," replied Aunt Merlin, sourly; "and the way the people crowd to watch us proves it."
"I assure you, Madame Merlin, that it isn't proper, and your sister is much annoyed."
"My sister's annoyed because she's got beyond dancing. Let her leave me alone! I propose to dance, I tell you!"