Emboldened, she whispered:
“Are you asleep? Are you asleep, darling?”
Without opening his eyes, Gerald replied:
“No, I am not asleep but I am affecting a deep sleep!...”
“Why?” Zozé asked smilingly.
“Because,” he replied in the same way, “you are late, Madame, and I detest that kind of joke.”
He rose to kiss her. She returned his caress with effusion and asked saucily:
“Guess where I have been!”
“I take orders from no one!” Gerald replied.
“Well, I have been to see père Raindal!”