"I will magnetize her; she will enjoy that," said Dupétrain.
"No, messieurs," said Balivan, "there's no way of inducing her to come here. Parbleu! if it could be done, I'd ask nothing better. I have offered again and again to paint her portrait and give it to her—to paint her in any costume she chose."
"Even as Eve, if she wanted you to, eh?"
"All my offers have been declined. She's a virtuous young woman, it would seem. She lives with her aunt, and never goes out except to her work; she's a dressmaker."
"Ha! ha!" laughed Célestin; "she's a dressmaker, and you haven't triumphed over her, my dear fellow! Others may succeed better; and if I should take a hand——"
"Oh! you are such a superb creature, it's quite possible. Still, I doubt it."
"Come, attend to your game, messieurs, for God's sake!" said Mouillot. "Sapristi! I have misty, and not one of you stands!"
"Monsieur had brelan, and he passed!" cried Tobie. "What a blunder!"
"Not at all. Do you think we're playing brelan?"