"There speaks the modesty of a man of letters, who desires to owe his reputation to his genius alone."
"Monsieur has something of my cousin the viscount’s look in his features," said Cornélie, glancing at Alfred; "don’t you think so, sister? In the eyes, and the shape of the mouth; but monsieur is even better looking."
"I have heard a great deal about your works, monsieur," said Eudoxie to Edouard; "and I am delighted to be in the company of the author of compositions so well turned."
"These women are terrible with their compliments!" whispered Edouard in Alfred’s ear. Luckily for the young men, Robineau bustled up to them, crying:
"Dinner is ready, mesdames! Let us go to the dining-room, if you please!"
Cornélie had approached Alfred, and put out her hand as if absent-mindedly; but Alfred, paying no heed to Mademoiselle de la Pincerie’s distraction, offered his arms to the two young women with whom he had already been walking, and moved away with them. Thereupon Cornélie abruptly took the hand that Robineau offered her; her anger caused her to squeeze it violently; and Robineau, beside himself with joy, kept repeating to her all the way:
"I am the most fortunate of mortals!"
They reached the banquet hall, which was decorated with festoons, garlands and mottoes.
"This is very neat," said Madame Gérard.
"It is like Berthelemot’s," said Monsieur Berlingue.