"He certainly didn't exert himself very much about this affair; Monsieur Edmond was the one who did everything; it was very lucky that he happened to be at Monsieur Chamoureau's the last time we went there; and it was very funny that he should have put himself out as he did, on the instant, to be useful to us; for he didn't know us, he had never seen us.—Had you ever seen him before, dear?"
"No indeed! Where do you suppose I could have seen him? Don't you go everywhere with me?"
"Yes, of course; and I should have seen him too. Everybody isn't as obliging as he is; for he threw over his own engagements; he was to go to the Bois de Boulogne, and he dropped everything to be of service to us."
"That proves that he is very polite."
"It does, indeed; don't you consider it rather extraordinary, Honorine?"
"Why, no; God be praised! there are still some men who take pleasure in rendering a service to ladies! They are becoming rather scarce, especially since men think of nothing but smoking; for courtesy and tobacco do not go well together! but still, you see that one sometimes meets such a man."
"And perhaps Monsieur Edmond doesn't smoke."
"Come, let's make a list of the furniture that I care most for and that I intend to take into the country. I will call it off, while you write, Agathe."
"Yes, my dear."
Mademoiselle Agathe procured writing materials, but she did not choose to drop the previous subject of conversation.