Part 8 (1/2)
”You are very fortunate, Monsieur Robineau!--For my part, I would like to find--I don't know just how to express it, but it seems to me that there should be a secret sympathy acting at the same time on two hearts that are made for each other.”
”Yes, I understand you; that is what happened to me with my first inclination, whom I met at the Bal du Colisee. We fell while waltzing, both at the same time. I instantly discovered a secret sympathy therein.”
Edouard allowed a faint smile to escape him, and drew near to a quadrille in which some very pretty women were performing.
”What do you think of that little blonde, Monsieur Robineau?”
”Why, nothing extraordinary; a good complexion, and youth; but she doesn't turn her feet out enough.”
”You are hard to suit! I think her very attractive; her eyes are lovely, her bearing full of grace. She does not seem to have made a careful study of dancing, but anyone can see that she enjoys it.--And what of the tall one, opposite?”
”She is not pretty; her nose is much too long, and there seems to be no end to her arms; her hair is badly arranged----”
”Well, I think that she has a very bright face, and it seems to me that, while she is not pretty, she must be attractive. I will wager that her conversation is very agreeable--And that stout brunette that's dancing now?”
”She is a perfect bundle, and she tears about like one possessed.”
”But see how light she is, despite her stoutness! What vivacity gleams in her eyes!”
”I say, Monsieur Edouard, you claim to be weary of _bonnes fortunes_, and yet you find all women to your liking; they all attract you!”
”Although I am weary of ephemeral liaisons, I did not say that I proposed to love no more; on the contrary, I am at present in search of an opportunity to fall in love in earnest.”
”Well, well! so am I, messieurs,” cried Alfred, who had stopped beside his two friends and had overheard Edouard's last words. ”I have a heart to place, and may the devil take me if I have known what to do with it for the last fortnight!--Here are plenty of good-looking women, however!”
”Faith! messieurs,” said Robineau, throwing out his chest, ”I protest that I contemplate all the ladies with a most indifferent eye. I am a philosopher, you see; besides, I have what I need, and it would be difficult for me to find anything better.”
”Aha! Robineau, then you must show her to us. You must ask us to dine with her.”
”Upon my word! do you mean to say that you think that she's a woman for mixed parties? a woman to be taken where there are men?”
”Are you trying to make us think that she's a d.u.c.h.ess?”
”Why--look you--that might be.”
”Ha! ha!--What on earth have you got in your pockets, Robineau? Are you wearing false hips to please your Dulcinea?”
Robineau blushed and put his hands over his pockets as he replied:
”It's some papers that I forgot to take out of my coat.”
”If you danced with such pockets as that, you must have produced a tremendous effect!--Ha! ha! it's worse than Mere Gigogne!--Are these ministerial papers, too?”
Robineau turned away in a pet and threw himself on a sofa, heedless of the fact that he was crus.h.i.+ng his cakes; and there he remained until the end of the ball, when Alfred came to him and said:
”We are going up to my rooms, Robineau; we are going to finish the night at the table, with a few faithful friends. Will you join us?”
”Yes, to be sure.”
”Then make up your mind to leave your couch, to which you seem to be glued like a pasha.”