Besides his egotism and his epicureanism, the dear uncle had another passion—­to play backgammon.  The game amused him very much; but the difficulty was to find any one to play with.  If, by accident, any of Nathalie’s visitors understood it, there was no escape from a long siege with the old gentleman; but most people preferred cards.

In order to please her uncle, Nathalie tried to learn this game; but it was almost impossible.  She could not give her attention to one thing for so long a time.  Her uncle scolded.  Nathalie gave up in despair.

“It was only for your own amusement that I wished to teach it to you,” said the good M. d’Ablaincourt.

Things were at this crisis when, at a ball one evening, Nathalie was introduced to a M. d’Apremont, a captain in the navy.

Nathalie raised her eyes, expecting to see a great sailor, with a wooden leg and a bandage over one eye; when to her great surprise, she beheld a man of about thirty, tall and finely formed, with two sound legs and two good eyes.

Armand d’Apremont had entered the navy at a very early age, and had arrived, although very young, to the dignity of a captain.  He had amassed a large fortune, in addition to his patrimonial estates, and he had now come home to rest after his labors.  As yet, however, he was a single man, and, moreover, had always laughed at love.

But when he saw Nathalie, his opinions underwent a change.  For the first time in his life he regretted that he had never learned to dance, and he kept his eyes fixed on her constantly.

His attentions to the young widow soon became a subject of general conversation, and, at last, the report reached the ears of M. d’Ablaincourt.  When Nathalie mentioned, one evening, that she expected the captain to spend the evening with her, the old man grew almost angry.

“Nathalie,” said he, “you act entirely without consulting me.  I have heard that the captain is very rude and unpolished in his manners.  To be sure, I have only seen him standing behind your chair; but he has never even asked after my health.  I only speak for your interest, as you are so giddy.”

Nathalie begged her uncle’s pardon, and even offered not to receive the captain’s visit; but this he forbore to require—­secretly resolving not to allow these visits to become too frequent.

But how frail are all human resolutions—­overturned by the merest trifle!  In this case, the game of backgammon was the unconscious cause of Nathalie’s becoming Mme. d’Apremont.  The captain was an excellent hand at backgammon.  When the uncle heard this, he proposed a game; and the captain, who understood that it was important to gain the uncle’s favor, readily acceded.

This did not please Nathalie.  She preferred that he should be occupied with herself.  When all the company were gone, she turned to her uncle, saying:  “You were right, uncle, after all.  I do not admire the captain’s manners; I see now that I should not have invited him.”