"Yes. And you?"

But she turned the subject with a frown. She would not let him question her about herself.

"No; tell me about yourself. Tell me…. Something about your life…."

"How can it be of any interest to you?"

"Tell me, all the same…."

He would not tell her: but he could not avoid answering her questions, for she cross-examined him very skilfully: so much so, that he told her something of what he was suffering, the story of his friendship, and how Olivier had left him. She listened with a pitying ironical smile…. Suddenly she asked:

"What time is it? Oh! good Heavens! I've been here two whole hours!…
Please forgive me…. Ah! what a rest it has been!…"

She added:

"Will you let me come again?… Not often…. Sometimes…. It would do me good. But I wouldn't like to bore you or waste your time…. Only a minute or two every now and then…."

"I'll come and see you," said Christophe.