"I assure you, Athenais, I am--mentally--a native of France."
She sighed luxuriously. "What an amusing prospect! And this is the sort of man at whose commands I am required to place myself."
"Not required, Athenais, requested--begged, besought!"
"I like that better. And," she enquired demurely, "may one ask what are monsieur's commands?"
"First: you will continue to flirt with me as at present--outrageously."
"Even when you make it so difficult?"
"And then, to waste an evening in my society."
"Must it be wasted?"
"That will be as it falls out."
"And what do we do with this evening of such questionable value?"