"Kiss it, cousin,—you have your gloves on."
"Pardon me, my dear cousin," said the young man, as he applied his lips to the naked and charming hand that was offered to him.
"What are you going to do this evening, Conrad?" inquired Madame de Lucenay, without seeming to take the slightest notice in the world of Florestan.
"Nothing, cousin; when I leave you, I shall go to the club."
"Indeed you shall not; you shall accompany us, M. de Lucenay and me, to Madame de Senneval's; she gives a party, and has frequently asked me to introduce you to her."
"I shall be but too happy."
"Then, too, I must tell you frankly that I don't like to see you begin so early with your habits and tastes for clubs. You are possessed of everything necessary in order to be everywhere welcomed, and even sought after, in the world, and you ought, therefore, to mix with it as much as possible."
"Yes, you are right, cousin."
"And as I am on the footing of a grandmother with you, my dear Conrad, I am determined to exact a great deal from you. You are emancipated, it is true, but I believe you will want a guardian for a long time to come, and you must, therefore, consider me in that light."
"Most joyfully, happily, cousin!" said the young duke, emphatically.