A voluptuous feeling swept through him at the contact; for an instant her breath came straight against his cheek.
"I see you're wearing a ring," he said. And he smiled and put on an air of indifference. "Perhaps I am to congratulate you?"
What would she answer? He did not look at her, but held his breath.
"And you?" she answered, "haven't you a ring? No? I'm sure somebody told me.... One hears so much about you nowadays, your name is in the papers."
"It's some poems I have written," he answered. "But you won't have seen them."
"Wasn't it a whole book? I thought...."
"Yes, there was a little book too."
They came to a square, she was in no hurry though she had to go to the Chamberlain's; she sat down on a seat. He stood in front of her.
Then she suddenly put out her hand to him and said:
"Sit down too."