"Ah, zut!" she laughed, "you do not care for me."
"Is it so?" I said. "What would you say if I told you that I did care?"
"I should say that you told me too late, monsieur," she replied, with a shrug, "Are you ready for me to pose?" And this changed woman turned her peerless back on me without a scruple.
A little mortified, I attended strictly to business for the rest of the morning. But I found myself, on the following day, waiting for her with impatience.
"And when is the event to take place?" I inquired, more eagerly than I chose to acknowledge. This was by no means the sort of enchantress that I had been seeking, you understand.
"In the spring," she said. "Look at the ring he has given to me, monsieur; is it not beautiful?"
I remarked that Louise's hands were very well shaped; and, indeed, happiness had brought a certain charm to her face.
"Do you know, Louise, that I am sorry that you are going to marry?" I exclaimed.
"Oh, get out!" she laughed, pushing me away. "It is no good your talking nonsense to me now, don't flatter yourself!"
Pouchin, the sculptor, happened to come in at that moment. "Sapristi!" he shouted; "what changes are to be seen! The nose of our brave Silvestre is out of joint now that we are affianced, hein?"