"I haven't given him to her yet, because it was only yesterday that he said the whole sentence; and you understand that, before giving him to Zizi, I wanted to be certain that he wouldn't make a mistake, that he wouldn't make a slip of the tongue."
"That was decidedly prudent on your part."
"By the way, an idea, a splendid idea has just occurred to me!"
"The deuce! try to hold on to it."
"You must be kind enough to dine with Zizi and me. In the first place, you owe us more lessons in champagne drinking."
"Really, you are very tempting, but——"
"Listen: during the dinner, I will have my parrot brought in, in—no matter what, I will find something—and he will deliver his compliment to my wife; you know we say 'my wife' now in speaking of a mistress, and she says 'my husband.'"
"I didn't know that, and I confess that I should prefer anything else."
"And what do you say to my idea about the bird? Fancy Zizi's surprise when she hears a compliment, and doesn't know where it comes from!"
"Why yes, that may well be amusing."