"What woman are you speaking of?—Where is she?"
"There by Voltaire's statue, beside Madame de Brévannes, who really seems quite ashamed of being seen in her society."
"Is M. de Brévannes, then, in Paris?"
"Certainly; but what makes you look so strangely when you ask the question, my dear Morville?"
"Has he been here long?"
"I think not. I saw him for the first time since his return at the Opera-ball. But what ails you, Morville? You seem quite preoccupied with Brévannes. Are you in love with his wife?—She is worth winning."
"Her only fault is in having friends who wear such head-dresses?"
"You who take so deep an interest in De Gercourt's success, my dear Morville, forget its most striking effects. His comedy had such an effect on the Prince de Hansfeld, that it has made him more imbecile than ever. He was conveyed to his carriage without consciousness. On his first going out, as they say; he has been lucky!"
"How pleasant for Madame de Hansfeld!"
"Oh! of her we may say as many ill-natured things as possible. Morville detests her, and his excuse of smelling of his cigar, which he gave for not going to his aunt and this handsome princess, was a pure invention. Oh! you are an original, Morville!"