'Oh, you can't expect me to pretend that I find you adorable always. There are times when I could fall upon you and exterminate you.'
'Why?'
'When you passed me yesterday with a nod.'
'Twas your own fault. You didn't look amusing yesterday.'
'When you baffle my perfectly innocent desire to know whom I have the honour of addressing.'
'Shall I summon Bézigue?' she asked, touching her bunch of charms.
He acted his despair.
'Besides, what does it matter? I know who you are,' she went on. 'Let that console you.'
'Did I say you were adorable? You're hateful.'
'What's in a name? Nothing but the power to compromise. Would you have me compromise myself more than I've done already? A woman who makes a man's acquaintance without an introduction, and talks about love, and smokes cigarettes, with him!' She gave a little shudder. 'How horrible it sounds when you state it baldly.'