"Might give offence?" she asked.
"It is possible," said he.
"Then we come to this: which is better, a king under the table or a politician at it?" She burst out laughing.
Madame Briande had fled to a remote corner. Wetter was in the throes of excitement. A strange coolness and recklessness now possessed me. I was insensible of everything at this moment except the impulse of rivalry and the desire for victory. Nothing in the scene had power to repel me, my eyes were blind to everything of ugly aspect in it.
"To define the question, mademoiselle, should be but a preliminary to answering it," said I, with a bow.
"I would answer it this minute, sire, but——"
"You hesitate, perhaps?"
"Oh, no; but my hair-dresser is waiting for me."
"Let no such trifle detain you then," I cried. "For I, even I the coward, had sooner——"
"Be misunderstood?"