"Well! I am one of your male friends. Don't men sometimes take their friends with them on a pleasure party? But if it will annoy you too much, I will not go."
"Oh! do not think that, madame! But I was afraid—I thought——"
I had no time to say any more; Rosette came toward us, saying:
"The cab's waiting; shall we go?"
"Let us go," Frédérique replied.
I was embarrassed for a moment; I intended to offer my arm to Madame Dauberny, but she had already accepted Balloquet's, and Rosette took possession of mine.
"Come on, monsieur! What on earth's the matter with you to-day? Since you've seen my aunts, you're very absent-minded!"
We entered the cab. Rosette insisted that I should sit opposite her. I obeyed. It seemed strange not to desire that arrangement, but I should have preferred to be facing Frédérique.
The cabman asked us where we were going. We looked at each other and said:
"Ah! that's so; where are we going?"