"We should look like two people kissing. What harm is there in that? Don't they know that you're my lover and I'm your mistress?"
"That's no reason. There is such a thing as propriety."
"Oh! I have no patience with you! Kiss me quick, or I'll shriek!"
I kissed her. Luckily, the others did not turn. I dropped my companion's arm on the pretext of looking for violets, and overtook our friends.
"What makes you walk so fast?" I asked Balloquet; "if you prefer not to stay with us, that's a different matter; but it isn't very sociable."
Frédérique burst out laughing, and Balloquet made signs to me which I considered foolish.
"See how the kindest intentions are sometimes misinterpreted," said Frédérique; "we thought that we were doing you a favor, by arranging a tête-à-tête for you with your pretty brunette."
"Oh! madame, you carry your kindness too far."
"So far as I am concerned," said Balloquet, "you needn't thank me; in remaining with madame, I acted entirely in my own interest."
Then he came close to me and whispered: