"Non," said Madame. "Certainement, non."
"But I want her to go to a school," said M. le Comte. "Why dost thou frown, my adored Ninon?"
"Because I am thinking," she replied. "There is but one school in Arles worthy of la petite, and that is held by la Princesse de Pleury; but alas, even that school is not what it used to be. There used to be there only les demoiselles the most refined, the highest in rank."
"Not the grass-green, ha! ha!" laughed the Comte.
"Thou art right, my adored one, not the grass-green. I, too, have thought of the education of la petite. It is of the utmost importance. Why not place her in the hands of a gouvernante? There is one, M'selle de Close. She is connected with M'selle de Blanc. She is of high rank and of great intelligence, and between M'selle de Close and M'selle de Blanc, we can have la petite taught in this, thine own château, all the things that belong to the best society."
"Of what age are those M'selles?" asked the Comte.
"M'selle de Close is eighteen; M'selle le Blanc one year more. They are young, but they are finished—ah, to the most complete!"
"And what knowledge can they impart?" asked M. le Comte.
"They'll teach her all those things that a young M'selle should know. They will keep her mind, mark you, M. le Comte, as white as a white marguerite, and they will impart to her those graces of society which are essential to le bon mari by-and-bye. They can come here day about, at two of the clock, and spend until four with la petite."
"Send them to me one at a time," said the Comte, "and let me interview them alone."