"All the world would suspect and laugh."
"Let those laugh that win."
"No,—she would never do as a wife; but then as"——
"But then in France we do not insult hospitality!"
The Baron transferred his gaze to me for a moment, then tapped his snuff-box, and approached the circle round Delphine.
It was odd that we, the arch enemies of the hour, could speak without the intervention of seconds; but I hoped that the Baron's conversation might be diverting,—the Baron hoped that mine might be didactic.
They were very gay with Delphine. He leaned on the back of a chair and listened. One spoke of the new gallery of the Tuileries, and the five pavilions,—a remark which led us to architecture.
"We all build our own houses," said Delphine, at last, "and then complain that they cramp us here, and the wind blows in there, while the fault is not in the order, but in us, who increase here and shrink there—without reason."
"You speak in metaphors," said the Baron.
"Precisely. A truth is often more visible veiled than nude."