"And will my privileges stop at such a small favour as that? Alas!"
"You are very curious and very indiscreet."
"Perhaps so, I should like to be curiously eager, and then indiscreetly happy."
"But," said she, without answering me, and pointing out a woman whose appearance was perfectly ludicrous, "look at that poor Madame B——. They all say she has such stupid eyes. Ridiculous! I think they are the brightest eyes in the world, for they look as though they wished to run away from her ugly head."
I forget all the other malicious observations she made, laughing aloud, as we descended the staircase, she on one step, and I on another.
At last, just as she was leaving, she reminded me that it was a long time since I had been to see her sketches; that she was very proud of the progress she had made, and would like to have my opinion on the subject.
"Madame, I shall be delighted either to criticise or admire so many marvels, only as I am very severe, and like to give my opinion frankly, I should be seriously annoyed by the presence of a third party; so I hope you will close your doors to visitors while I am there."
"But, monsieur, that would seem like a tête-à-tête, a rendezvous."
"Exactly so, madame."
"And my servants?"