“I can let you have a cheaper pair and almost as fine,” said the shopwoman, but the young lady said she did not care about it, and was getting ready to go, making a profound reverence to my princess Baret.
She, no doubt flattered by this sign of respect went up to her, called her little queen, told her she was as fair as a May morning, and asked the old woman her name,
“She is Mdlle. de Boulainvilier, my niece.”
“How can you be so hard-hearted,” said I to the aunt, “as to refuse your charming niece a toy which would make her happy? Allow me to make her a present of them.”
So saying I put the ear-rings in the girl’s hands, while she blushed and looked at her aunt as if to ask her permission.
“You may have the ear-rings,” said she, “as this gentleman has been kind enough to give you such a present, and you should give him a kiss by way of thanks.”
“The ear-rings,” said the shopwoman, “will be only three louis.”
Hereupon the affair took a comic turn; the old woman got into a rage and said,
“How can you be such a cheat? You told me they were only two louis.”
“Nay, madam, I asked three.”