"Ah! that makes a lovely ornament for a woman! When I have a mistress with handsome hair, I lose no time in removing her comb and arranging her hair like a Bacchante's. But you must be careful; several times, when I have supposed that I was dealing with real hair, upon removing the comb suddenly—without asking permission—I have seen the whole business fall: bands, curls and chignon! And then they flew into a rage with me.—I am more prudent now and always ask if I may touch."
"Thélénie has jet-black eyes, too; you rarely see eyes of such a pure black."
"Why, it seems to me you're still in love with her!"
"Oh, no! not at all. I made her acquaintance, as one makes many acquaintances, by chance. She is a beautiful woman, always dressed with no less taste than style. Such a conquest is always flattering to a young man; but I soon saw that there was not the slightest sympathy between that woman's temperament and mine; she is imperious and exacting, and, as I said, very jealous."
"And you have broken with her?"
"I haven't set foot inside her door for a week."
"That's not very long. Hasn't she written to you?"
"Indeed she has, letter after letter; but I don't answer them."
"Very good! but take my advice and wear a coat of mail when you are out late at night."
"Bah! what nonsense! Tell me, what motive for revenge can that woman have? I didn't take her away from anybody else, I made her no promise of marriage; I never swore that I would pass my life at her feet."