"You have doubtless noticed, madame, that most of the persons I have taken such pleasure in welcoming this evening do not belong to the fashionable world."
"That is true."
"Still, you were much pleased just now, were you not, madame, to meet the great artist whose work you so greatly admired?"
"Yes, monsieur; I told you how much pleasure the opportunity to meet him afforded me."
"You must consequently approve, I think, of my having extended an invitation to him as well as to a number of his colleagues."
"It seems to me that such an invitation was almost obligatory upon you, monsieur."
"Ah, well, madame, I feel that it was likewise obligatory upon me to extend the same invitation to all who had assisted in any way in the construction of this house, from the famous artists to the humblest mechanic, so they are all here with their families enjoying the beauties they have created, as they, in my opinion, at least, have an undoubted right to do."
"What!" exclaimed M. de Riancourt, "do you mean to say that you have the carvers, and gilders, and locksmiths, and carpenters, and paper-hangers, and even the masons, here? Why, this passes my comprehension."
"Do you know anything about the habits of bees, my dear duke?"
"Not much, I must admit."