“I beg you not to shew it to anyone.”
“You may rely on me.”
I was in an ecstasy at having put her off so effectually.
At eight o’clock all my guests arrived, and I saw before me all the fairest ladies and the noblest gentlemen of Grenoble. The only thing which vexed me was the compliments they lavished on me, as is customary in the provinces.
I opened the ball with the lady pointed out to me by M. Valenglard, and then I danced with all the ladies in succession; but my partner in all the square dances was the fair Mdlle. Roman, who shone from her simplicity—at least, in my eyes.
After a quadrille, in which I had exerted myself a good deal, I felt hot and went up to my room to put on a lighter suit, and as I was doing so, in came the fair cousin, who asked me if I required anything.
“Yes, you, dearest,” I replied, going up to her and taking her in my arms. “Did anyone see you coming in here?”
“No, I came from upstairs, and my cousins are in the dancing-room.”
“That is capital. You are fair as Love himself, and this is an excellent opportunity for shewing you how much I love you.”
“Good heavens! What are you doing? Let me go, somebody might come in. Well, put out the light!”