“You know my ideas on that subject, my dear Ernest; I am not one of those who believe in virtue only after a visit to the notary’s office. But no one here knows that you are not married, and it’s, not one of those things which there is any need of proclaiming.”
“Of course not. Just look at Marguerite; see how lovely she is! I was frightened, because I thought she would be awkward before people; she makes a better figure than I expected. I said to her before we came into the room: ‘My dear love, just persuade yourself that you are better-looking than all the people whom you are to see here, and then their staring will not frighten you.’”
“That is what a woman should always say to herself, even when she goes to court.”
“Madame your wife is not here?”
“I beg pardon, she is.”
“Oh! then I must go and bid her good-evening.”
“I think that she is dancing now.—There are some very amusing faces here, are there not?”
“Oh, yes! there are some fine subjects for a farce.”
I trusted that Ernest would forget to pay his respects to my wife; but how was I to prevent him? The quadrille came to an end. I took advantage of the moment when the ladies were being escorted to their seats, and I went to Madame Ernest, who luckily was far away from my wife.
My old neighbor seemed overjoyed to see me.