NINETTE
Well, as to that, he must be tall,
Or say, not "tall"—of middle size;
And next, he must have laughing eyes;
And a hook-nose,—with, underneath,
Oh! what a row of sparkling teeth!
NINON (touching her cheek suspiciously)
Has he a scar on this side?
NINETTE
Hush!
Some one is coming. No; a thrush:
I see it swinging there.
NINON
Go on.
NINETTE
Then he must fence (ah, look, 'tis gone!)
And dance like Monseigneur, and sing
"Love was a Shepherd,"—everything
That men do. Tell me yours, Ninon.
NINON
Shall I? Then mine has black, black hair …
I mean, he should have; then an air
Half sad, half noble; features thin;
A little royale on the chin;
And such a pale, high brow. And then,
He is a prince of gentlemen;—
He, too, can ride and fence and write
Sonnets and madrigals, yet fight
No worse for that—
NINETTE
I know your man.
NINON
And I know yours. But you'll not tell,—
Swear it!
NINETTE
I swear upon this fan,—
My grandmother's!
NINON
And I, I swear
On this old turquoise reliquaire,—
My great-great-grandmother's!—
(After a pause)