“For heaven’s sake, mademoiselle, don’t bother us with your cheeses. Go up to the cupola—you can see farther.”
“Very well, madame.”
Julie went upstairs and monsieur resumed the conversation.
“You won’t deny, I trust, that Dalville has a pleasant voice.”
“Pleasant! bah! a voice like everybody’s else.”
“Why, I should say that you and he sing duets together perfectly, especially the one from Feydeau’s Muletier; you know, the one with ‘What joy! what joy!’ and that ends with ‘coucou! coucou!’”
“Oh! you tire me, monsieur, with your ‘coucous!’”
“He plays quadrilles on the piano.”
“Who doesn’t play now?”
“Faith, I don’t; to be sure, I have always had so much business on hand that I have had to neglect my taste for music. At all events, Dalville is bright, pleasant, always in good spirits.”