"If Mademoiselle will forgive me, I own up to it."
"We will forgive you this time," she said, tapping him once more with her fan.
"A penny for your thoughts?" he next enquired.
"To speak plainly, I think you are just a pure romancer," she answered, looking very cross and frowning. "I gave you credit for more ability than you seem to possess," and she turned her head away from him. Marcel felt very angry and nettled at her outspoken criticism, and felt inclined to show her his annoyance, but he allowed his discretion to overcome his feelings.
"Ah, mademoiselle, you forget—
"The naked truth and the naked lie
Are banned in good society.
"What do you like best among the arts?" added Marcel, anxious to change the conversation.
"Oh, I adore music," she replied, turning towards him and becoming more amiable, "and I love painting, but I think I enjoy reading best."
"What? Novels?"
"Oh, dear no, poetry and the literature of the great writers. By the way, I think you said you had taken to writing poetry?" she said sarcastically.