"Oh, no! I am just going into the country—not very far away. I am not leaving you for long."
"Ah! you are going to the country? You have never said anything about it. Is it something you have just thought of?"
"I have been thinking of it for several days. I am in the habit of going into the country every year for a time; it does me good."
"If it's for your health, you are wise. I will go away, then, and come again when you return—when you send me word."
"No; on the contrary, if you wish to please me, to do me a favor, you will continue to come here. I am taking my servant with me, but I will leave you my keys, which you will hand to the concierge when you go away. I intrust the care of my establishment to you! There are many things to be done here. I would like to have my curtains renovated, and the furniture of my salon and bedroom covered. You will find money in the desk. Be good enough to attend to all these details. I take the liberty of looking upon you as if you were my sister; does that offend you?"
"Offend me! no, indeed! You are too kind to me! you always find pretexts for keeping me busy, for heaping kindnesses on me. Oh! I see it plainly enough!"
"Don't say that. On the contrary, it is due to you that my house has assumed an orderly, comfortable aspect that it never had before."
"Will it be long before you return to Paris?"
"I don't think so. But sometimes, when one has no business to attend to——"
"Of course, and when one is enjoying one's self. Are you going to visit—friends?"