"Please be seated."
The counselor sat down, wiped his glasses with his handkerchief, smoothed his very sparse, but ungrayed black hair, hastily crossed his legs, and blinked a few times with neuralgic eyes.
"I read in to-day's Messenger a very flattering mention about you,
Madame Directress."
"It's unmerited, for I don't know how that role ought to be played."
"You played it beautifully, wonderfully!"
"Oh, you're a naughty flatterer, Mr. Counselor! . . ." she chided.
"I speak nothing but the truth, the unadulterated truth, my word of honor!"
"Please ma'am it is already noon," interrupted the nurse, who had returned.
"You are bound for the theater, Madame Directress?"
"Yes, I'll drop in to see the rehearsal, and then take a walk about town."