"Well, does your business ever take you boating with customers? Is it part of your business to dance with a customer and drink grenadine with him?"
"Yes, but you wouldn't understand——" And suddenly she comprehended his misunderstanding of her and blushed deeply.
"I am not a cocotte. Did you think I meant that?"
"I know you are not. I didn't know what you meant."
There was a silence; the color in her cheeks cooled under the rouge.
"It happened this way," she said quietly. "I didn't want to make it a matter of business with you. Even in the beginning I didn't.... You please me.... After all, the town is en fête.... After all, a girl has a right to please herself once in her life.... And business is a very lonely thing for the young.... Why shouldn't I amuse myself for an hour with a client who pleases me?"
"Are you doing it?"
"Yes. I never before knew a distinguished painter—only noisy boys from the schools, whose hair is uncut, whose conversation is blague, and whose trousers are too baggy to suit me. They smoke soldier's tobacco, and their subjects of discussion are not always convenable."
He said, curiously:
"As for that, you must hear much that is not convenable in the cabaret."