“Come, now, shut up,” he said: “you shall have what you want.”
“Really?”
“Upon my word.”
“I’d rather have two or three lines in black and white.”
“I’ll give them to you to-night.”
“All right, then! Forward the big guns! Look out for next Sunday’s number!”
Peace being made, the gentlemen continued their walk in the most friendly manner, M. Costeclar pointing out to Maxence all the celebrities who were passing by them in their carriages.
He had just designated to his attention Mme. and Mlle. de Thaller, accompanied by two gigantic footmen, when, suddenly interrupting himself, and rising on tiptoe,
“Sacre bleu!” he exclaimed: “what a handsome woman!”
Without too much affectation, Maxence fell back a step or two. He felt himself blushing to his very ears, and trembled lest his sudden emotion were noticed, and he were questioned; for it was Mlle. Lucienne who thus excited M. Costeclar’s noisy enthusiasm. Once already she had been around the lake; and she was continuing her circular drive.