"And they come of very good family," added Madame de Bracieux; "they are descended from La Balue, from the Cardinal, the real—"
"Oh, well," put in Bijou gently, "it would, perhaps, be better for Gisèle not to have descended from the iron cage, but to have larger eyes; however, as it cannot be helped—"
M. de Clagny laughed, as he turned round to look about for his hat, which he had put down somewhere in the room.
"One needs to have a certain amount of assurance," he said, "in making one's exit from here, for one feels how one will be pulled to pieces."
"You need not be afraid," said Bijou, "we shall not pull you to pieces, although you could stand it very well. I promise you, though, that you shall not be pulled to pieces. Will you take my word for it?"
"Yes, I will take your word," answered the count, as he took the little hands, which were held out to him, and pressed them affectionately in his.
VIII.
"Are you going for a ride, Bijou?" called out Pierrot, leaning out of the window.