"Say rather, madame, that you do not choose to grant me an assignation."
"Ah! monsieur is losing his temper already. Well, let me see; to-morrow I am to go to the Champs-Élysées with Madame Gerbancourt and her sister—two petites-maîtresses whom you must have seen here. They are not beautiful, but they are always beautifully dressed. Madame Gerbancourt has rather a good figure; her sister is too thin."
"I haven't the faintest recollection of the ladies."
"No matter! You will find us sitting opposite the Cirque."
"Very good!"
"It will be about two o'clock. You may come and speak to me. They live near by, on Rue de Ponthieu. When they start to go home, I will say that I am waiting for Frédérique. They will leave me, I will stay with you, and then——"
"Oh! you are adorable! I swear to love you all my life!"
"Really? I thought that you were in love with Madame Dauberny too?"
"With your friend? No, indeed; I have never dreamed of such a thing! I would have been glad to obtain her friendship; her original character pleased me mightily; but I have failed to do it. You must have noticed how coldly she treated me yesterday."
"Yes, I did. But I don't know what has been the matter with her lately; she is so capricious; I see much less of her than I used."