Lady B.—“All women enjoy being shocked ... a little, you know ... not too much.”
La Comtesse.—“Well, then, dear—it was nearly ten years ago—I was at a ball with my husband. About one o’clock in the morning, I had just been waltzing with him, we saw there was going to be no supper ... and we were getting as hungry as wolves.
“‘I say, darling,’ said the Count to me, ‘I am terribly hungry; don’t you think it is time to go home?’
“‘But, my dear, we shall find nothing to eat at home.’
“‘No?—never mind, we will find a way out of that difficulty pretty soon; we are en carnaval; we will go and sup at the Maison Dorée.’
“No sooner said than done; we left the ball-room, jumped into the brougham, and in a few minutes we were ... in a cabinet particulier. The Count had a little sardonic, triumphant expression, that made me feel a little uneasy, but what was to be done? I tried to look as dignified as possible, when the waiter came in to receive his orders. With his wife, a man does not commit great extravagances: the Count ordered oysters, a lobster salad, some cold chicken, ices, and a bottle of iced champagne. I had never seen my husband so gay, so bright, so witty.... Oh! how lovely it is to be adored by one’s husband!... At dessert the Count became somewhat enterprising ... I mean very enterprising! Fortunately the waiter came in....”
Lady B.—“Without knocking?”
La Comtesse.—“Without knocking; they are accustomed to it.... They see such things, you know.”
Lady B.—“It must be high fun for them.”
La Comtesse.—“Not at all ... habit, you see ... they would much rather be in bed, I can assure you. Well, as I was telling you, the waiter came in for my husband’s orders. ‘Waiter,’ said he, ‘you can go now. Bring some coffee ... when I ring.’ The waiter bowed and retired. You should have seen with what ease the Count gave him this order.... Oh! you know, it was easy to see he had had ... a little experience ... it was not the first time he had supped in a cabinet particulier.”