There would
always be time enough to patch all that up if that ninny of a Count
Muffat were really to treat her as Joseph did Potiphar's wife.
"Leoville or Chambertin?" murmured a waiter, who came craning forward
between Nana and Steiner just as the latter was addressing her in a low
voice.
"Eh, what?" he stammered, losing his head. "Whatever you like--I don't
care."
Vandeuvres gently nudged Lucy Stewart, who had a very spiteful tongue
and a very fierce invention when once she was set going. That evening
Mignon was driving her to exasperation.
"He would gladly be bottleholder, you know," she remarked to the count.
"He's in hopes of repeating what he did with little Jonquier. You
remember: Jonquier was Rose's man, but he was sweet on big Laure. Now
Mignon procured Laure for Jonquier and then came back arm in arm with
him to Rose, as if he were a husband who had been allowed a little
peccadillo. But this time the thing's going to fail. Nana doesn't give
up the men who are lent her."
"What ails Mignon that he should be looking at his wife in that severe
way?" asked Vandeuvres.
He leaned forward and saw Rose growing exceedingly amorous toward
Fauchery. This was the explanation of his neighbor's wrath.
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