don't know how much pleasure it gives me to sacrifice that gown for you, dear Louis."
At this, Louis Bourcet, with a flaming face, replied:
"I beg of you, Mademoiselle, not to call me Louis; and your expressions of endearment are as unpleasant to me as they are improper."
The lookers-on began to laugh, and turned away, except Colonel Bruart, a fat old retired cavalry colonel, on whom a pretty face never failed of its effect.
"Mademoiselle," he cried gallantly, "if I were as young as your fiancé, you might call me all the endearing names in the dictionary and I wouldn't complain. Is this young gentleman a Frenchman?"
"Yes, Monsieur," replied Fifi, sweetly.
"Then," replied Colonel Bruart, turning his broad back on the scene, "I am glad there are not many like him. Adieu, Mademoiselle."
Fifi, Madame Bourcet and Louis returned to the drawing-room. The Bourcets were stupefied. Fifi was evidently a dangerous person to adopt into a family, but a hundred thousand francs is a great
