Part 54 (1/2)
”Because, first, you have not once said 'I told you so,'--not reproached me for disregarding your advice.”
”No? But that would be unnecessary. You are punished. Next?”
”Well, you let me remain here.”
”Why not?”
She opened the steel-blue eyes on him sharply,--so sharply, in fact, that Jean Marot either could not just then remember why not or that he did not care to say. But she relieved him of that embarra.s.sment very quickly.
”If you mean that I should be afraid of you, monsieur, or that I would have thought for a moment----”
”Oh! no, no, no! I do not mean that, of course. It was the fear women have of others----”
”What do I care for 'others'!” she snapped, scornfully. ”Pray, Monsieur Jean, are there, then, 'others' who care anything about me?
No! Ask them. No! I do what I please. And I account to n.o.body.
Understand? n.o.body!”
Mlle. Fouchette brought the small, thin white hand down upon the table with a slap that gave sufficient a.s.surance of her sincerity, at the same time giving a happy idea of her immeasurable contempt for society.
”But, my dear Mademoiselle Fouchette, I, at least, care for you,--only----”
”La, la, la! Only you don't care quite enough, Monsieur Jean, to take my advice,” she interrupted. ”Is not that it?”
”If I don't I shall be the loser, I'm afraid,” he replied, lugubriously.
”And then I should be sorry.”
”Why?”
”Why not?”
”Because I am not worthy of it. Now answer me.”
”Well, because it pleases me,” she responded, with a smile. ”You know what I said but a moment ago? I do what I please and account to n.o.body.”
”Very well. Now, does it please your Supreme Highness to continue to shower the blessing of your royal favor upon me?”
”For to-day, perhaps; if you obey my imperious will, monsieur.”
He prolonged the comedy by kneeling on one knee and saying humbly, ”I am your most obedient subject. Command!”
”Bring me my clothes, monsieur.”
”Er--wha-at? clothes?” he stammered.
”I said clothes,--on the bed there. Lay them out on the couch, please.”
He found her simple wardrobe of the previous day on the bed--the skirt, the little bolero, the hat with the feather--and laid them out on the couch one by one with mock care and ceremony.