"A young flower-maker: nineteen years old, with a piquant, roguish face, eyes full of fire and a lovely figure!"
"You seem to know her very well!"
"I! oh! I don't know her at all; I am simply repeating what Edmond told me about her a little while ago."
"Then you haven't seen this woman?"
"Not yet; but I shall see her before long, as we are all to sup together; Freluchon arranged it all at the costumer's."
"Ah! you are to sup together!"
Thélénie was silent for some moments, apparently lost in reflection. Meanwhile Chamoureau cudgelled his brain to think of something clever to say to her; having had no success, he confined himself to adjusting his cap and pulling up his boot-tops.
"Monsieur Chamoureau," said Thélénie at last, in her sweetest voice, "will you give me your arm for a little promenade—not here in the foyer, for there are too many people here."
"Will I, madame! why, I am only too happy that you should deign to take me for your escort."
And the Spaniard, springing to his feet, offered his arm to the pearl-gray domino, who took it with that lack of formality which a mask sanctions.