strolled into the theatre, and, seeing a vacant seat beside
Villiers, walked over and took it.

'Good evening, my friend,' he said, touching Villiers on the
shoulder. 'Enjoying the play, eh?'

Villiers angrily pushed away the Frenchman's hand and glared
vindictively at him.

'Ah, you still bear malice for that little episode of the ditch,'
said Vandeloup with a gay laugh. 'Come, now, this is a mistake; let
us be friends.'

'Go to the devil!' growled Villiers, crossly.

'All right, my friend,' said M. Vandeloup, serenely crossing his
legs. 'We'll all end up by paying a visit to that gentleman, but
while we are on earth we may as well be pleasant. Seen your wife
lately?'

This apparently careless inquiry caused Mr Villiers to jump suddenly
out of his seat, much to the astonishment of Barty, who did not know
for what reason he was standing up.

'Ah! you want to look at the house, I suppose,' remarked M.
Vandeloup, lazily; 'the building is extremely ugly, but there are
some redeeming features in it. I refer, of course, to the number of
pretty girls,' and Gaston turned round and looked steadily at a red-
haired damsel behind him, who blushed and giggled, thinking he was
referring to her.