“You caused those ladies a terrible fright, Monsieur Freluchon!” she said.
“I, madame? how so?”
“By making them believe that my husband has a secret method of telling all their ages.”
“Isn’t it true? Isn’t that what Cha—that your husband guesses?”
“No; it’s the age of trees, not of women.”
“Frankly, I thought that it was much more agreeable to investigate the age of the fair sex! I should never have imagined that my friend Cha—de Belleville would have taken an interest in any other study. Excuse the mistake—it is quite natural.”
“Did Monsieur Edmond Didier come with you?”
“No, madame.”
“Shall we see him this evening?”
“I think so—unless he cannot make up his mind to quit his love-making; for he is passionately in love, you know—the dear fellow!”