"The one sets up for being _blasé_---he is never either hungry, thirsty, or sleepy; he does not care for anything; everything bores him. And it is not true, you know! he never misses a dance, and his sister says that he gets up in the night to eat on the sly. Then, too, he writes ridiculous poetry, paints pictures as absurd as his poetry, and goes in for music--such music!"
"She is as masculine as her brother is effeminate; she goes shooting and hunting, and her dream is to go in for deer-stalking, and to marry an officer."
"Ah! But I don't fancy so! At all events, he is not thinking about her--"
"Because he is too much taken up with you, like all the others; is not that so?"
"Oh, nonsense!" he said, "I can see it all quite plainly."
"There are only three guests left now for me to introduce to you," continued Bijou, evidently wishing to change the subject of the conversation. "There are the Juzencourts--people who are very much up-to-date, and who have bought 'The Pines'--and one of their friends who is staying for a month with them, a delightful young widow, the Viscountess de Nézel."
"What!" exclaimed the count, with an abrupt movement; "Madame de Nézel--Jean de Blaye is here then?"
Denyse opened her beautiful, bright eyes wide, as she replied in astonishment:
"Yes, Jean is here; but what has that to do with----?"
"Oh, nothing at all! nothing at all!" said M. de Clagny hastily, and then after a moment's silence, he asked: "Is Madame de Nézel as pretty as ever?"
Bijou smiled. "Why do you make fun of me? I know very well that I am not pretty," she said.
"It's my turn now, my dear little Bijou, to ask why you make fun of an old friend who admires you as much as it is possible to admire anyone, and who, alas! is not the only one."
"Well, because when one admires or loves, one would like to be the only one to admire or love; one's affection makes one selfish and jealous."
"And after--let me see--how long--three hours--yes, after three hours' acquaintance, you already have some affection for me?" asked Bijou, looking quite joyful.
"Yes, a great deal!" answered M. de Clagny very seriously.
"So much the better, because, you see, I too, I like you very much!" And, as though she were just talking to herself, she added: "I had imagined you very different, I expected to see you not at all like you are."