In the entr'acte I went to pay Madame de V---- a visit. She received me very graciously, I would almost say in a coquettish and provocative manner, if it were not her usual way, she being born coquettish and provoking as some women are born blonde or brunette. She is so original, and bright, and wild, and says everything in such a graceful, lively way, and with such innocent maliciousness, that people are willing to forgive her for anything she does. She began by a lively attack on my devotion to a certain marquise, saying that the belle marquise was fortunate in being one of her enemies, as otherwise she would have taken great satisfaction in disturbing the serenity of our love scenes. "How is that? You refrain from revenge because she is an enemy?" "Certainly, we save those nice little treacheries for our best friends," said she, "and it is a great pity, for in twenty-four hours, if I chose, I could make you so much in love with me that you would have to be tied hand and foot." "But you did that long ago, and without taking the least trouble," said I. Then, through one gallant speech to another, I rang the praises of those ephemeral amours of former days, of those heart to heart communions which were so ravishing, but which in our days were unfortunately so rare. Charming meetings, with no yesterday nor to-morrow, and which leave only a delicious souvenir,--a single pearl. "I don't agree with you," said she, very gaily; "when it comes to pearls, I prefer a necklace to a ring." "Yes, madame; but all the pearls of a necklace are exactly alike, of equal size, and very monotonous, whereas some pearls are inestimable, merely on account of their singularity, and are worth more than a whole necklace." "That is the reason, no doubt, monsieur, why you have always seemed to me so precious and peculiar." Thanks to our chatter, "Othello" was hardly listened to. I say this to my shame. People were beginning to leave the boxes. "Come, let us be going," said Madame de V----, "my husband is not here, and I am all alone again." "Your husband,--I can understand that, for you know they say, 'It is only the rich that undervalue their wealth,' but what does surprise me is that--" And as I hesitated, she said, very deliberately: "What surprises you is that M. de ---- is not here to give me his arm and call the carriage for me; is not that what you wished to say?" "That is just what, through ferocious envy and a tigerish jealousy, I did not wish to say at all." "I have sent him hunting for a week, so as to take him into my good graces once more," replied Madame de V----, negligently, "for his absences are delightful." "Delightful for every one, for I shall be indebted to him for a charming privilege, if you will accept my arm to go to the door." "Certainly I will; I was waiting for you to offer it." "And will my privileges stop at such a small favour as that? Alas!" "You are very curious and very indiscreet."