"Not at all," said Fanny; "I wished Heloise to go with me. I have
noticed that when I am here you always lose. I fear I have the evil
eye."

"Say, rather, that you have no stomach," said Heloise. "Had you made
your debut, as I made mine, with Frederic Lemaitre in 'Thirty Years in
the Life of an Actor'"

"It certainly would not rejuvenate her," said Henri, finishing the
sentence.

"Marquis, you are very impertinent," said the duenna, laughing. "As a
penalty, you must lend me five louis."

"With the greatest pleasure."

"Thank you!"

And, as a new hand was about to be dealt, Heloise seated herself at one
of the tables. This time Paul Landry put fifteen thousand francs in the
bank.

"Will you do me the favor to cut the cards?" he asked of Fanny, who
stood behind Henri's chair.

"What! in spite of my evil eye, Monsieur?"

"I do not fear that, Mademoiselle. Your eyes have always been too
beautiful for one of them to change now."