“She always looks the same: like an angel who came down from heaven yesterday and has been rather disappointed in her first day on earth!”
The Prince was evidently a man of a simple nature, and Madame Grandoni’s rather violent metaphor took his fancy. His face lighted up a little and he replied with eagerness: “Ah, she’s the only woman I’ve ever seen whose beauty never for a moment falls below itself. She has no bad days. She’s so handsome when she’s angry!”
“She’s very handsome to-day, but she’s not angry,” said the old lady.
“Not when my name was announced?”
“I was not with her then; but when she sent for me and asked me to see you it was quite without passion. And even when I argued with her and tried to persuade her (and she doesn’t like that, you know) she was still perfectly quiet.”
“She hates me, she despises me too much, eh?”
“How can I tell, dear Prince, when she never mentions you?”
“Never, never?”
“That’s much better than if she railed at you and abused you.”
“You mean it should give me more hope for the future?” the young man asked quickly.