“The object of my action in this matter is above all suspicion,” remarked the churchwarden, with great dignity, while his wife darted toward him a furious glance.

“You?  Come, come!” continued the General, who took a mischievous delight in making trouble for the worthy Desvanneaux.  “Every one knows quite well that you have by no means renounced Satan, his pomps—­”

“And his good works!” added Madame de Nointel, with a burst of laughter somewhat out of place in this formal gathering for the discussion of charitable works.

“We are getting outside of the question,” said the Duchess, striking her bell.  “Moreover, is not the assistance of these ladies necessary?”

“Indispensable,” the secretary replied.  “Their assistance will greatly increase the receipts.”

“What sum shall we decide upon as the price of admission?” asked Madame de Lisieux.

“Twenty francs,” said Desvanneaux.  “We have a thousand tickets printed already, and, if the ladies present wish to solicit subscriptions, each has before her the wherewithal to inscribe appropriate notes of appeal.”

“To be drawn upon at sight,” said the Comtesse de Lisieux, taking a pen.  “A tax on vanity, I should call it.”

She wrote rapidly, and then read aloud: 

   “My dear baron: 

“Your proverbial generosity justifies my new appeal.  You will accept, I am sure, the ten tickets which I enclose, when you know that your confreres, the Messieurs Axenstein, have taken double that number.”

“And here,” said the Vicomtesse de Nointel, “is a tax on gallantry.”  And she read aloud: 

   “My dear prince: 

“You have done me the honor to write to me that you love me.  I suppose I ought to show your note to my husband, who is an expert swordsman; but I prefer to return to you your autograph letter for the price of these fifteen tickets.  Go—­and sin again, should your heart prompt you!”

“But that is a species of blackmail, Madame!” cried Madame Desvanneaux.

“The end justifies the means,” replied the Vicomtesse gayly.  “Besides, I am accountable only to the Duc de Montgeron.  What is his opinion?”

“I call it a very clever stroke,” said the Duke.

“You hear, Madame!  Only, of course, not every lady has a collection of similar little notes!” said the Vicomtesse de Nointel.

The entrance of M. Durand, treasurer of the society, interrupted the progress of this correspondence.

“Do not trouble yourselves so much, Mesdames,” said the notary.  “The practical solution of the matter I am about to lay before you, if Madame the president will permit me to speak.”

“I should think so!” said the Duchess.  “Speak, by all means!”

“A charitable person has offered to assume all the expenses of the affair,” said the notary, “on condition that carte blanche is granted to her in the matter of the site.  In case her offer is accepted, she will make over to the society, within three months, the title to the real estate, in regular order.”