Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/185

 sacrificed to your love of cribbage? Do you suppose that I shall let my relative, the Holy Father, remain in ignorance of those games of cribbage? Beware, Monsieur Louis Bourcet, that you are not made to repent of the heartless way in which you entrapped my affections at the cribbage-board."

And Fifi walked with great dignity into her bedroom and banged the door after her. Once inside, she opened her arms wide and whispered softly:

"Cartouche! Cartouche! You will not be any such lover as this creature!"

Meanwhile, Madame Bourcet had returned from her conference with her brother. Angéline had met her on the stairs with a gruesome tale of the blue satin bed, and the two monkeys, who had been invited to call the next day. It was too much for Madame Bourcet. She dropped on a chair as soon as she reached the drawing-room. There Louis Bourcet burst forth with his account, of the blue satin bed and the monkeys, adding many harrowing details omitted by Angéline.

"And what does my uncle say?" he asked, gloomily.

"He says," replied Madame Bourcet, more