"Ah! they sing that in Les Noces de Jeannette."
"Oh! you won't stop me like that! Amongst so many lovers, if I had to choose, it would certainly be Giraud that I should prefer."
"An older woman might admire Giraud, because he is handsome—but not a young girl! You see a young girl's one idea is marriage——"
"Then, you have no grudge against Giraud, because, according to you, he is not marriageable, consequently, not to be feared."
"Precisely!"
"Very well, then, and what about me, my dear fellow? Do you think I am marriageable, then? Can you imagine me with my wretched fifteen hundred a year endeavouring to make Bijou happy? Yes, can you just imagine it now?—a house at a hundred a year or so—petroleum lamps, coke fires, etc.—that would be delicious."
"And yet you are in love with her?"
"Excuse me, I did not say that I was in love with Bijou. I don't really know; all I can say is, that she has taken my fancy tremendously, and that, as I simply cannot marry her, I am wretchedly unhappy."
"And you don't think she cares for you?"
"Not the least bit in the world! She has never tried even to deceive me on that point. 'Good-morning! Good-night! What a fine day it is.'—that's the sort of palpitating dialogue which goes on every day between us. You see, therefore, that you have no reason to have a spite against me?"