24 A FRISKY MATRON
breadth. Dangers of velocity, dangers of mass,
were evaded with the courage and skill of a master
of the art.
' If he can do that, he can do anything,' thought
Estelle.
A sublime confidence gradually possessed her
soul.
' Oh, monsieur,' said she, * you waltz as well as
I do ! Mon Dieu! but this is enchanting. Do not
stop; you can continue without ceasing until the
end. Let us not lose an instant.'
Now, very few Parisians can waltz right through
a seven minutes' dance, and soon the floor became
thinned. Then but one other couple was left ;
these sat down crimson and blown. The music
ended; Estelle, panting and delighted, did not dis¬
guise her admiration for her partner's handsome
profile. She had forgotten Aramis. Yussuff was
soon engaged to Estelle for the next five dances.
By the time these were finished they had become
very good friends indeed, and bj' accident the whole
party found themselves clustered together,
* Messieurs et mesdames,' said Yussuff, ' will you
do me the pleasure of taking supper with me ? I
observe it is now one o'clock, and the time for a
change of scene has arrived. And will you, gentle¬
men, do me the great favour of introducing me to
your recent partners, so that I may hope for the
happiness they will confer on me by joining the
party ?'
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