Monsieur Vermoncey felt unaccountably disturbed; the woman's conduct seemed to him so strange that he was almost frightened. However, as he was not obliged to look at her, he continued to play without turning in her direction, courtesy not requiring him to speak to a lady whom he had never seen before.
But several young men, among them Dupétrain the magnetizer, soon joined the fair American and began to converse with her.
"How is this, madame? you, in the cardroom?"
"Why not, monsieur? Are ladies forbidden to come here?"
"Of course not; but the idea of watching a game of cards, when music beckons to you, and the dance—for they have just begun to dance."
"Well, messieurs, if I prefer cards to dancing, am I not at liberty to do so?"
"Oh! but that cannot be! A pretty woman prefer cards to dancing!"
"We have heard you say that you detested cards."
"Am I not entitled to change my mind? Ask Monsieur Dupétrain here, who is gifted with second-sight; perhaps he can tell you what attracted me to this salon."
"I, fair lady? Ah! I would compel you to tell us, if you would let me put you to sleep!"