"Did you save her from brigands?" exclaimed Renée.
"No, it was much less romantic than that. Mme. de Bonnières had some difficulty about the bill at her hotel. She was alone and I prevented her from being robbed."
"It was a case of robbers, anyhow, then," said Renée.
"One might write a play on the subject," put in Denoisel, "and it would be quite a new plot—the reduction of a bill leading to a marriage. What a good title, too, 'The Romance of an Awkward Moment, à la Rabelais!'"
"Mme. de Bonnières is a very nice woman," continued Mme. Mauperin. "I like her face. Do you know her, M. Barousse?" she asked, turning to Renée's godfather.
"Yes, she is very pleasant."
"Oh! why, god-papa, she's like a satyr!" exclaimed Renée.
When the word was out some of the guests smiled, and the young girl, turning red, hastened to add: "I only mean she has a face like one."
"That's what I call mending matters!" said Denoisel.
"Did you stay long in Italy, monsieur?" asked M. Mauperin, by way of changing the subject.