"Say, rather, a rejected one."
"So be it, mademoiselle. But might this not merely show the poor taste of a person who would prefer a big red poppy to a modest violet."
And Olivier cast a laughing glance at the buxom lass whose gaudy attire did seem to justify the comparison.
Mlle. de Beaumesnil could not help smiling, but she answered, with a shake of the head:
"Ah, monsieur, kind as your reply is, it proves that I am doubly right."
"How is that, mademoiselle?"
"You took compassion on me, and you still have sufficient compassion to be unwilling to admit the fact."
"You do right to insist upon frankness, mademoiselle. It is a thousand times better than compliments."
"And what I certainly expect of you, monsieur."
"Well, yes, mademoiselle; seeing that you were the only person not dancing, I thought how dull it must be for you, and I resolved to engage you for the next quadrille. I hope my sincerity has not offended you, but you insisted—"