"What's the good?"
"Who knows? Perhaps I may then have some fresh idea."
"Why have you not one now?"
"Ah! my dear fellow, ideas are capricious damsels which will not let themselves be taken except when they fancy, and the whim of my idea is not to produce anything until after the refusal of the grand-ducal censorship." "All right, we must humour your fancy I suppose." Doligny went away in despair at the probable refusal which threatened him, and yet with a certain degree of hopefulness in the idea that might spring up from that refusal. Three day later I saw him again. Owing to the protection of Belloc the ambassador, a delightful man, the refusal was only delayed for three days. This was a great favour; it might have been put off for a month, six weeks—for ever!
"Well?" I said, when I caught sight of Doligny.
"Well, as you said."
"Refused?"
"Refused."
"What plays did you send?"