“I’m quite of your opinion,” said the youth; exchanging with de jars a singularly significant look; “and you had better treat her well, uncle, or I shall play you some trick.”

“Ah! ah!” cried Jeannin.  “You poor fellow!  I very much fear that you are warming a little serpent in your bosom.  Have an eye to this dandy with the beardless chin!  But joking apart, my boy, are you really on good terms with the fair lady?”

“Certainly I am.”

“And you are not uneasy, commander?”

“Not the least little bit.”

“He is quite right.  I answer for her as for my self, you know; as long as he loves her she will love him; as long as he is faithful she will be faithful.  Do you imagine that a woman who insists on her lover carrying her off can so easily turn away from the man of her choice?  I know her well; I have had long talks with her, she and I alone:  she is feather-brained, given to pleasure, entirely without prejudices and those stupid scruples which spoil the lives of other women; but a good sort on the whole; devoted to my uncle, with no deception about her; but at the same time extremely jealous, and has no notion of letting herself be sacrificed to a rival.  If ever she finds herself deceived, good-bye to prudence and reserve, and then—­”

A look and a touch of the commander’s knee cut this panegyric short, to which the treasurer was listening with open-eyed astonishment.

“What enthusiasm!” he exclaimed.  “Well, and then——­”

“Why, then,” went on the young man, with a laugh, “if my uncle behaves badly, I, his nephew, will try to make up for his wrong-doing:  he can’t blame me then.  But until then he may be quite easy, as he well knows.”

“Oh yes, and in proof of that I am going to take Moranges with me to-night.  He is young and inexperienced, and it will be a good lesson for him to see how a gallant whose amorous intrigues did not begin yesterday sets about getting even with a coquette.  He can turn it to account later on.

“On my word,” said Jeannin, “my notion is that he is in no great need of a teacher; however, that’s your business, not mine.  Let us return to what we were talking about just now.  Are we agreed; and shall we amuse ourselves by paying out the lady in, her own coin?”

“If you like.”

“Which of us is to begin?”

De Jars struck the table with the handle of his dagger.

“More wine, gentlemen?” said the drawer, running up.

“No, dice; and be quick about it.”

“Three casts each and the highest wins,” said Jeannin.  “You begin.”

“I throw for myself and nephew.”  The dice rolled on the table.

“Ace and three.”

“It’s my turn now.  Six and five.”

“Pass it over.  Five and two.”

“We’re equal.  Four and two.”

“Now let me.  Ace and blank.”

“Double six.”

“You have won.”