"No, no; do not trouble. I shall be going in a moment. I have a large fire blazing in my room."
"Then suppose we go and sit there," said poor Madame Valière.
Poor Madame Dépine was seized with a cough, more protracted than any of which she had complained.
"Provided it has not gone out in my absence," she stammered at last. "I will go first and see if it is in good trim."
"No, no; it is not worth the trouble of moving." And Madame Valière drew her street-cloak closer round her slim form. "But I have lived so long in Russia, I forget people call this cold."
"Ah! the Princess travelled far?" said Madame Dépine, eagerly.
"Too far," replied Madame Valière, with a flash of Gallic wit. "But who has told you of the Princess?"
"Madame la Propriétaire, naturally."
"She talks too much—she and her wig!"
"If only she didn't imagine herself a powdered marquise in it! To see her standing before the mirror in the salon!"