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Yvette cried: "Ah, Monsieur de Belvigne." Then turning toward Saval, she introduced him. "My last adorer big, fat, rich, and stupid. Those are the kind I like. A veritable drum-major but of the table d'hote. But see, you are still bigger than he. How shall I nickname you? Good! I have it. I shall call you 'M. Colossus of Rhodes, Junior, from the Colossus who certainly was your father.
When the time was up she refused to dismount, constraining her escort to take several more rides on the back of these children's animals, to the great delight of the public, who shouted jokes at them. Monsieur de Belvigne was livid and dizzy when he got off. Then she began to wander among the booths. She forced all her men to get weighed among a crowd of spectators.
Yvette marched with a military step, holding Belvigne by the arm, as a prisoner is led. She did not laugh; upon her features sat a pale seriousness, a sort of sinister calm. Servigny interrupted his trumpet blasts only to shout orders. The Prince and the Chevalier were greatly amused, finding all this very funny and in good taste. The two recruits drummed away continually.
As she was very hungry after this long walk, she ate heartily with the pleasurable appetite of people who have taken exercise. Her mother, happy to see her so hungry, and now feeling tranquil herself, said to her as they left the table: "All our friends are coming to spend Sunday with us. I have invited the Prince, the Chevalier, and Monsieur de Belvigne."
When they arrived at the fete, they made a sensation. Girls applauded; young men jeered, and a stout gentleman with his wife on his arm said enviously: "There are some people who are full of fun." Yvette saw the wooden horses and compelled Belvigne to mount at her right, while her squad scrambled upon the whirling beasts behind.
And Servigny began to imitate the trumpet, while the two newcomers made believe to beat the drum. Monsieur de Belvigne, a little confused, said in a low tone: "Mademoiselle Yvette, be reasonable, you will compromise yourself." She answered: "It is you whom I am compromising, Raisine. As for me, I don't care much about it. To-morrow it will not occur.
You came for that; I have given you your money's worth." Then she walked on, saying nothing further; and suddenly Belvigne perceived that she was weeping. Astounded, he inquired: "What is the matter?" She murmured: "Let me alone, it does not concern you." But he insisted, like a fool: "Oh, Mademoiselle, come, what is the matter, has anyone annoyed you?"
The Prince immediately clung to it, and, Saval letting him go, he swung there, suspended in the air, moving his legs in empty space. Then Servigny, seeing his struggling legs which sought a resting place, pulled them downward with all his strength; the hands lost their grip and the Prince fell in a heap on Monsieur de Belvigne, who was coming to aid him. "Whose turn next?" asked Servigny.
M. de Belvigne bowed. Turning around she saw that the Prince and the Chevalier had disappeared. Servigny, dejected and dripping, ceased playing on the trumpet, and walked with a gloomy air at the side of the two wearied young men, who also had stopped the drum playing. She began to laugh dryly, saying: "You seem to have had enough; nevertheless, that is what you call having a good time, isn't it?
She repeated impatiently: "Will you keep still?" Then suddenly, no longer able to resist the despairing sorrow which drowned her heart, she began to sob so violently, that she could no longer walk. She covered her face with her hands, panting for breath, choked by the violence of her despair. Belvigne stood still at her side, quite bewildered, repeating: "I don't understand this at all."
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