"Mademoiselle, I sent my valet to you yesterday; I ventured to request you to come to my apartment; it is not very far; I live just opposite."
"Oh! I know it, monsieur; I recognize you perfectly. But your servant must have told you——"
"That you would not call upon unmarried men—yes, he told me that. But, bless my soul! why do bachelors cause you such alarm? Have you had much reason to complain of them? Ha! ha! ha! Do you know that that might give rise to many conjectures?"
And he laughed again, because he had fine teeth which he was very glad to exhibit, and because, moreover, he thought it quite clever to laugh like that. But Georgette remained unmoved, and replied:
"I don't know what conjectures one might form, monsieur; but I act thus because it suits me, and I worry very little about what people may think."
Monsieur de Mardeille, surprised at the girl's serious tone, smiled rather sheepishly and decided not to laugh any more. He moved uneasily in his chair as he rejoined:
"I had no intention to offend you. The deuce! mademoiselle, it seems that one cannot safely jest with you."
"I beg your pardon, monsieur; I am very ready to jest, when I know my man."
"Ah! to be sure, and you know me only by sight as yet. I consider myself fortunate, mademoiselle, to have so charming a person as you are for my opposite neighbor; and it made me anxious at once to—to—to become better acquainted with you."
"I thank you, monsieur; but there is too great a difference of rank between us."