"You gentlemen who are in diplomacy, in politics, have very little time to give to the ladies; so that they should be highly flattered when it occurs to you to give a thought to them."
"Oh! I give many thoughts to them."
Albert could hardly restrain a smile at the Swede's phlegm and his laconic utterances, and he did not say a word, being curious to see if his conversation would continue in the same tone. But Madame Baldimer was too shrewd not to try to make the count talk more freely. She addressed him again.
"How did you like the last opéra-comique? We met there the night before last, you know."
"I don't remember it at all," replied Monsieur Dahlborne, after apparently trying to recall the incident.
"I should judge, then, that you didn't enjoy it very much."
The Swede made no reply, but felt in his coat pocket and produced a superb fan of some rare and valuable wood, beautifully carved, and enriched with inlaid work. He presented it to Madame Baldimer, saying:
"I broke yours at the theatre; will you allow me to replace it?"
The fair American took the fan and gazed at it with an enraptured expression.
"Oh! really, Monsieur Dahlborne," she cried, "this is too beautiful. I don't know whether I ought to accept it; it is simply magnificent! What workmanship! what exquisite finish! it is perfectly lovely! I cannot take it in exchange for the one I had."