"I don't agree with you," said she, very gaily; "when it comes to pearls, I prefer a necklace to a ring."
"Yes, madame; but all the pearls of a necklace are exactly alike, of equal size, and very monotonous, whereas some pearls are inestimable, merely on account of their singularity, and are worth more than a whole necklace."
"That is the reason, no doubt, monsieur, why you have always seemed to me so precious and peculiar."
Thanks to our chatter, "Othello" was hardly listened to. I say this to my shame. People were beginning to leave the boxes. "Come, let us be going," said Madame de V——, "my husband is not here, and I am all alone again."
"Your husband,—I can understand that, for you know they say, 'It is only the rich that undervalue their wealth,' but what does surprise me is that—"
And as I hesitated, she said, very deliberately: "What surprises you is that M. de —— is not here to give me his arm and call the carriage for me; is not that what you wished to say?"
"That is just what, through ferocious envy and a tigerish jealousy, I did not wish to say at all."
"I have sent him hunting for a week, so as to take him into my good graces once more," replied Madame de V——, negligently, "for his absences are delightful."
"Delightful for every one, for I shall be indebted to him for a charming privilege, if you will accept my arm to go to the door."
"Certainly I will; I was waiting for you to offer it."