"My part!... Which?"
"The one you asked for in my drama, to my great honour."
"What! the part of Doña Sol," exclaimed Mademoiselle Mars, astounded; "do you mean this part?" ... And she pointed to the roll of paper which she held in her hand, frowning her black eyebrows over those eyes which could on occasion assume an incredibly hard expression.
Hugo bowed.
"Yes," he said, "the part of Doña Sol which you hold in your hand."
"Ah! that is it, is it?" said Mademoiselle Mars; and she struck the marble chimneypiece with the roll, and stamped on the floor with her foot. "This is the first time an author has ever asked me to give up my part!"
"Very well, madame; I think it is time an example should be set and I will set it."
"But why do you want to take it from me?"
"Because I believe I am right in saying, madame, that when you honour me with your remarks you appear totally to forget to whom you are speaking."
"In what way, monsieur?"