"Yes; and now that color has become so fashionable that a yellow mark would not be distinctive at all. Ah! there's a young actress from the Variétés. Whom is she with to-day?"
"With an Englishman who is in a fair way to ruin himself for her. It won't take long; she makes her adorers strike a fast pace."
"She is right; she is the fashion now, and she is making the most of it. It doesn't last long in Paris."
"But it seems to me that I could mention several ladies of her stamp who have been the fashion for fifteen years at least. What a pile of money they have fricasseed, eh?"
"Do you know, I like the word fricasseed; it's a fact that they spend it with all sorts of sauce."
"If only they had the sense to put some of it by; then they wouldn't be obliged to end as box openers, after cutting a brilliant figure on the stage."
"Put money by! that's a reflection quite worthy of Tobie! What I can't understand is, how he ever made up his mind to buy such a big pin, with a cameo. How much did your cameo cost, Tobie? and your cane must have cost a lot, too. Damnation! what a swell! he denies himself nothing!"
"True," said Célestin; "but it would be well to know if it's all real gold."
Monsieur Tobie Pigeonnier blushed to the end of his nose; but he affected to laugh heartily, and replied:
"Ah! Monsieur de Valnoir, how unkind of you! When you find me wearing anything that isn't of the first quality, you will be very sharp. I care for nothing, of any sort, that is not really choice. It's the same with my linen—I must always have the very finest. The shirt I am wearing cost me seventy-five francs."