"Very intimately."
"Then, my dear Lissac, you can do me the greatest favor. No, I do not ask you to do it, I insist on it."
Over the pretty Andalusian features of Madame Gerson, a mocking smile played.
"I have guessed it," she exclaimed.
"And so have I," said Lissac. "You wish me to present the new Minister of the Interior to you? You have a friend you want appointed to a prefecture."
"Not at all. I only want him to take Pichereau's place at my reception. My dear Lissac, my kind Lissac," she continued in dulcet tones, and clasping her little gloved hands entreatingly, like a child begging for a toy, "persuade Monsieur Vaudrey to accept this invitation of mine and you will be a love, you understand, Lissac, a love!"
But Guy had already risen and with a touch of his thumb snapping out his crush hat, he opened the door of the box, saying to Sabine as he did so:
"Take notice that I ask nothing in return for this favor!"
Madame Marsy began to laugh.
"Ah!" she cried, "that is discreet, but I am willing to subscribe to any condition!"