"I am here, madame," Hugo would reply, as he rose from his seat.
"Ah! that is all right!—thanks.... Will you please tell me, M. Hugo...."
"Madame?"
"I have this line to say—
'Vous êtes, mon lion, superbe et généreux!'"
"Yes, madame; Hernani says to you—
'Hélas! j'aime pourtant d'une amour bien profonde!
Ne pleure pas ... Mourons plutôt! Que n'ai-je un monde,
Je te le donnerais! Je suis bien malheureux!'
And you reply to him—
"Vous êtes, mon lion, superbe et généreux!'"
"Do you like that phrase, M. Hugo?"