"Two days, then; a week if you like! You have wonderful facility when you choose. And what else? Here, I'll pour out the wine. What else?"
"Heaps of things. He wants to pull half the opera to pieces, I think."
"Oh, no, Claudie! You are exaggerating. You always do, dear old boy. And if you do what he says, what then?"
"How d'you mean?"
"Would he take it? Would he produce it?"
"He didn't commit himself."
"Of course not! They never do. But would he? You must have gathered something from his manner, from what he said, what he looked like."
"He seemed very much struck with the libretto. He said there were great opportunities for new scenic effects."
"He is going to take it! He is! He is!" she cried exultantly. "I knew he would. I always knew. Why, why do you look so grim, Claudie?"
She threw one arm round his neck and kissed him.