"The devil! I'm rather mixed up with all this; I'm afraid I shall make mistakes."
"Oh, no! you'll get hold of it in a minute."
Monsieur Dupétrain walked up to Tobie, who was standing by the card table, and said:
"While you're not playing, I can tell you the anecdote about magnetism that you were so curious to hear. After you left the dinner table, I didn't choose to tell it; I preferred to wait for you.—A young married woman, whose husband had just started on a journey——"
"Excuse me," said Tobie, "but I am studying misty; I don't quite understand this new way of playing bouillotte, and I shall be very glad not to make any mistakes. Besides, the quarter has struck, messieurs. Who goes out?"
"Mouillot and Célestin.—Come, messieurs, give up your seats."
"We'll just finish the volante, then we'll go."
"The volante?" exclaimed Tobie; "what in the deuce is that?"
"Each person puts in a chip when everyone passes, and you keep putting in one as long as they pass."
"The devil! that may mount up pretty high, messieurs! why, you are playing an infernal game!"