ALBERT. No? Jacques, I'm awfully obliged to you; you've done me a good turn----
ALBERT. You want to do me one more favor?
JACQUES. [_Devotedly._] Anything you like!
ALBERT. Promise me you'll never let Henrietta know that you told me this?
ALBERT. You know she has to understand that my behavior toward her is in character. Natural, you see.
JACQUES. Oh, you're going at it strenuously.
ALBERT. Let's not have Henriette find us together. Would you mind disappearing?
JACQUES. With pleasure. I'll look in later and get the news.
[_Exits after shaking hands cordially with_ ALBERT.
HENRIETTE. [_Re-entering as_ ALBERT _assumes a rather severe attitude_.] How are you? [_Pause._] Have you seen Jacques?
ALBERT. [_With a determined air._] No, Henriette. Thank God!
ALBERT. Because it pains me to see men in your presence whom you care nothing for.
HENRIETTE. [_Delighted._] You don't like that?
ALBERT. No, I don't. And I'd like to tell you----
HENRIETTE. About my relations with Jacques?
ALBERT. [_Sits on chair near sofa._] You suppose correctly; heaps.
HENRIETTE. I suppose I displease you in other ways, too?
HENRIETTE. [_Really delighted._] How confidently you say that!
ALBERT. So much the worse if you don't like it!
HENRIETTE. Quite the contrary, my dear Albert; you can't imagine how you please me when you talk like that. It's perfectly adorable.
ALBERT. It makes very little difference to me whether I please you or not. I speak according to my temperament. Perhaps it is a bit authoritative, but I can't help _that_.
ALBERT. I haven't the slightest idea what you were about to say, but I'll guarantee that there's not a more inflexible temper than mine in Paris.
HENRIETTE. I can easily believe it. [_Pause._] Now tell me in what way you think I'm coquettish.
[_Sitting on edge of sofa in an interested attitude._ ALBERT _takes out cigarette, lights and smokes it_.
ALBERT. That's easy; for instance, when you go to the theatre, to a reception, to the races. As soon as you arrive the men flock about in dozens; those who don't know you come to be introduced. You're the talking-stock of society. Now I should be greatly obliged if you would tell me to what you attribute this notoriety?
HENRIETTE. [_Modestly._] Well, I should attribute it to the fact that I am--agreeable, and pleasant----