"I will say good-bye to her forever; I will tell her that I hope that she will be happy—although she has wrecked my life."
"But how do you suppose that she can speak to you in secret? she is always surrounded; there's always somebody with us. What would people say? what would they think?"
"If you refuse, I will go and speak to her during the ball."
"Well—no—— Wait here, then; and, when we return from dressing, I will try—I will make her come through this corridor."
"Oh! thanks, thanks a thousand times! Ah! you are too kind!"
"I must go; adieu! But, in heaven's name, keep out of sight, don't show yourself!"
As she spoke, Adolphine made a sign of intelligence to Cherami, who imagined that the charming young woman was throwing him a kiss; but she disappeared just as he left the table to go to embrace her; and as the waiter entered the room at that moment, the ex-beau bestowed a resounding smack upon that functionary's cheek.
"Sacrebleu! what is this?" cried Cherami, roughly pushing back the waiter, who stood by the door in open-mouthed amazement at the caress he had received.—"Why the devil do you come up under my nose, waiter? Plague take the knave! I said to myself: 'Gad! this young lady uses very cheap soap!'"
"Pardon, monsieur; it isn't my fault; I was coming in, and you ran into my arms. I know well enough that it wasn't me you meant to embrace."
"It's lucky that you understand that."