"Yes, I understand—where are you going though?"
Bijou was just crossing the room.
"I am going across to sit by M. Giraud; he won't worry me like all of you."
The tutor blushed, and moved slightly to make room for her on the divan on which he was seated. Denyse glided on, and took her place at his side.
"We are listening," she said.
Jean was twisting a pencil and a piece of paper about in his fingers.
"What did Venus answer?" he asked.
M. de Rueille, with an absent-minded expression on his face, was watching a moth fluttering round the lamp near him.
"What did Venus answer?" called out several voices together, as loudly as possible.