"I have not the good fortunes at cards this evening," that gentleman replied; "I have won nothing; lost, rather, I fear."
"So sorry; come have a glass of wine, and perhaps the luck may turn."
"N'importe, I shall play no more to-night. The fortunes are not propices. My système does not conform to the play of Mistaire--what you call?--Constantine."
"Considine. Probably not. He generally plays euchre. You were playing whist. Liable to trump his partner's best card. I know his weakness. Let me find you some one else."
"I thank you. No. It grows late. I go in search of madame. M'sieur himself does not succeed well in the little plan he did me the honour to propose--to ally our families. I observe M'sieur Randolphe withholds the--what you say?--the petits soins which aire of custom when a gentleman pretends to the hand of a demoiselle. N'importe, I accept the excuses of m'sieur without saying. One knows the authority of father counts for nothing with you English; but the more should have been an understanding before to approach me."
"My dear sir," Jordan began deprecatingly; but the other raised his hand in dignified protest.
"Enough. I make no reproach--N'importe. My good brother, the ministre, has views. We will forget."
"My dear Mr. Rouget--I beg!--I will even admit that you have ground of offence, but pray take into account the waywardness of a head-strong youth who resents being dictated to, and fancies he should decide his own movements. Still, I must say for him, the boy really is steady, and a good lad; and that, you will allow, is a qualification not always to be met with among the eligible young men of the present day. The mortgage upon La Hache would be a nice provision for the young people, would save you from the possibility of instalments falling due at inconvenient times, and I think--though perhaps I am too nearly related to be an impartial judge--the lad has parts, and would not discredit the Honourable the Minister of Drainage and Irrigation either in politics or the public service. He has been bred to the law, as perhaps you know, and passed his examinations with distinction."
M. Rouget bowed his head and allowed the look of displeasure to relax upon his countenance. He was most willing to push forward the matrimonial scheme, though naturally, as being the weaker party, it behoved him to keep that fact to himself, and to be ready, at the first sign of backwardness on the other side, to feign offended dignity, that he might be able to withdraw from the fruitless negotiation with the honours of war.
They were now leaving the supper-room together, and Considine approached just as the Frenchman walked forward alone in search of his ladies.