“Oh,” she said, “it is nice of you to go about everywhere saying that I have nothing but rubbishy ornaments about me!”
“You mean this little saloon of yours? Oh yes,” said he, quite at his ease. “You haven’t anything worth looking at here!”
“What! not my china figure?” she asked, quite hurt.
“No, no, everything is quite bourgeois. It is necessary for a person to have some taste. You wouldn’t allow me to select the things—”
“Your taste, forsooth! just talk about your taste!” she retorted, flushing crimson and feeling quite angry. “You have been seen with a lady—”
“What lady?” he asked, surprised by the violence of the attack.
“A fine choice, indeed! I compliment you on it. A girl whom the whole of Paris knows—”
She suddenly paused, remembering Pauline’s presence.
“Pauline,” she said, “go into the garden for a minute.”
“Oh no,” retorted the girl indignantly. “It’s so tiresome; I’m always being sent out of the way.”