"Would not that be so with a king also?"
"Certainly, if there could be such a thing."
"But you think there could not?"
"I can't call such a thing to mind, mademoiselle."
"Ah, you can't call it to mind! No, you can't call it to mind. It seems to me that there is a difference, then, between politicians and kings."
Madame Briande was moving about the room in evident discomfort. Wetter was sitting with his hand clenched on the table and his eyes downcast.
Coralie looked long and intently at him. Then she turned her eyes on me. I took out a cigarette, lit it, and smiled at her.
"You—you would get under the table?" she asked me.
"You catch my meaning perfectly."
"Then aren't you ashamed to sit at it?"