“His is nothing less than one of the most remarkable minds of the day!”
“st-ce pas?” Zozé murmured.
“Yes,” Bunel went on, moved as much by a generous impulse of solidarity as by a malicious delight in contradicting a clubman.... “Yes, without comparing him to Taine or Renan, I think that within the last few years the science of history has produced no more vigorous brain nor a purer stylist....”
“Really?” Pums exclaimed, suddenly brought round to another view.
As a matter of fact, the only reproach which he had for M. Raindal was that he spoke too low. Silberschmidt agreed with him. Mme. Herschstein, to whom the master had listened, affirmed that M. Raindal was one of the most interesting of men. Mme. Pums thought he had a very expressive face. Givonne was called down for voicing a criticism of Mme. Rainda dress. Did such things count?
The change was so decisive and so general that Zozé felt much pity for her little Raldo. Poor darling! What a snubbing!
She walked to the fireplace where he stood, his elbows resting on the marble of the mantelpiece. When she came quite close to him she murmured in a passionate whisper the query which had kept her throat dry for the last three hours:
“Do you love me?”
Free from spite, the count instantly affirmed that he did.