"Do you really mean it?" exclaimed she, "Oh! what happiness! Then you find me sufficiently Europeanized?"
"You coquette! you are adorable!—--What a nice fan you have, mademoiselle!" added I, changing my manner as Maud came close to us.
"Do you think so," she answered, "Is it Chinese or Japanese?"
Maud having passed we resumed our conversation, overjoyed at the idea of constantly seeing each other again. The waltz was just ending and I was obliged to conduct Kondjé-Gul back to my aunt.
"Listen!" she remarked, "whenever I put my fan up to my lips, that will mean 'I love you'——You must come back soon to invite me for another dance, won't you?"
"My dear girl, I can't."
"Why?"
"Because it is not usual, and would be remarked," I replied.
"But I don't want to dance with anyone else!" she said, almost with a terrified look.
I had not for once thought of this very natural consequence of our little adventure, and I must confess that the idea of anyone else asking her after me took me quite by surprise—like some improbability which no mortal could conceive.