Volume I Part 19 (1/2)
”Agreed, _belle dame_; although certainly one may well be proud to know you, although one is ent.i.tled to be vain of your acquaintance, from the instant that you forbid me to speak, I will not lisp a word.”
”Do not forget that promise, monsieur, especially when you are with your friends Messieurs Edmond Didier and Freluchon.”
”Oh! I'll be very careful, I know that they are terribly garrulous, especially Freluchon.”
”And if my name should happen to be mentioned in your presence, if I should be the subject of conversation, you will listen and keep silent.”
”If you wish, I will not even listen.”
”I beg your pardon, monsieur, you will listen and remember everything that is said; for I am inquisitive and am anxious to know what people think of me.”
”In that case, never fear; I'll open both my ears so wide that I won't lose a word.”
”Now, monsieur, I must leave you. See, this is my address;--you may return to your friends and sup with them.”
As she spoke, Thelenie handed Chamoureau a card, then hurriedly replaced her mask.
”What is this, fascinating woman! are you going to leave me?” said the Spaniard, tucking the card under his doublet. ”I hoped--I dared to think that you would allow me to escort you to your home.”
”No, monsieur, it's impossible; I have friends here, and I must join them again. The day after to-morrow, between two o'clock and five, I give you permission to call. Now, adieu; I forbid you to follow me.”
And Thelenie ran rapidly downstairs.
”All the same,” said Chamoureau, pulling up his boot-tops, ”I have made a fine conquest!”
VII
THE DANGER OF FALLING ASLEEP IN COMPANY
Thelenie found Mademoiselle Helose in the balcony box; she motioned to her to come with her.
”Do you mean to say we are going already?” asked the little black domino.
”Already! why, it's very late. See, the dancers have plenty of room now, which means that the ball is nearing its end.”
”Have you spoken to Monsieur Edmond?”
”No, no, it's of no use; I leave him with his mistress--a flower-maker, my dear; really, it makes me blush to think that I was jealous of such a creature.”
”But there are some very pretty flower-makers!”
”What of that? she's a grisette, all the same, and that sort of an affair won't keep Edmond in chains for long. I say again that I regret having lowered myself by speaking to that girl. However, I have just made the acquaintance of a person who will keep me advised concerning my faithless lover's intrigues.”
”It's that tall man dressed as a Spaniard, I suppose, that that woman came to tell you about?”
”Exactly; an idiot who thinks he's made a conquest of me.--Come this way, we'll get down more quickly.”
As the two women started downstairs, the tall man who had talked with Thelenie in her box, happened to be directly in front of her. He stopped her, saying: