The young man who had spoken last walked up to Monsieur Plays, whom he discovered in an adjoining room, standing near a whist table and watching the game with close attention.
"Well, Monsieur Plays," said the young man, bowing to him, "you seem to be much engrossed by the game?"
"Yes; I am watching it rather closely."
"Are you studying the fine points of whist?"
"I study everything."
"You must be a fine whist player."
"On the contrary, I don't understand the game yet; for ten years, I've been watching it; but I hope that, by dint of watching, I shall learn it finally. My wife absolutely insists on my learning it; that is why I never lose a chance to look on."
"Speaking of madame, Monsieur Plays, she seems to have become a lionne[O] in her retirement."
"A lionne! my wife! Why, no; far from it, I assure you! on the contrary, her disposition has become more tractable; she is very mild and gentle now."
"You don't understand me, Monsieur Plays; by lionne, we men of fashion mean an eccentric woman, one who is very far advanced in the modern ideas of progress."