"Frederick."
"Ha! Federico! It doesn't annoy you when I address you in that way?"
And she gazed at him in a coaxing sort of way that was almost amorous.
All of a sudden she uttered an exclamation of delight at the sight of Mademoiselle Vatnaz.
The lady-artist had no time to lose before presiding at her table d'hôte at six o'clock sharp; and she was panting for breath, being completely exhausted. She first took out of her pocket a gold chain in a paper, then various objects that she had bought.
"You should know that there are in the Rue Joubert splendid Suède gloves at thirty-six sous. Your dyer wants eight days more. As for the guipure, I told you that they would dye it again. Bugneaux has got the instalment you paid. That's all, I think. You owe me a hundred and eighty-five francs."
Rosanette went to a drawer to get ten napoleons. Neither of the pair had any money. Frederick offered some.
"I'll pay you back," said the Vatnaz, as she stuffed the fifteen francs into her handbag. "But you are a naughty boy! I don't love you any longer—you didn't get me to dance with you even once the other evening! Ah! my dear, I came across a case of stuffed humming-birds which are perfect loves at a shop in the Quai Voltaire. If I were in your place, I would make myself a present of them. Look here! What do you think of it?"
And she exhibited an old remnant of pink silk which she had purchased at the Temple to make a mediæval doublet for Delmar.
"He came to-day, didn't he?"