"Perhaps so, I should like to be curiously eager, and then indiscreetly happy." "But," said she, without answering me, and pointing out a woman whose appearance was perfectly ludicrous, "look at that poor Madame B----. They all say she has such stupid eyes. Ridiculous! I think they are the brightest eyes in the world, for they look as though they wished to run away from her ugly head." I forget all the other malicious observations she made, laughing aloud, as we descended the staircase, she on one step, and I on another. At last, just as she was leaving, she reminded me that it was a long time since I had been to see her sketches; that she was very proud of the progress she had made, and would like to have my opinion on the subject. "Madame, I shall be delighted either to criticise or admire so many marvels, only as I am very severe, and like to give my opinion frankly, I should be seriously annoyed by the presence of a third party; so I hope you will close your doors to visitors while I am there." "But, monsieur, that would seem like a tête-à-tête, a rendezvous." "Exactly so, madame." "And my servants?" "Tell them you do not wish to see any one but your notary." "And you would pass yourself off--" "For the notary, for an attorney, for anything you please; if necessary I will get a package of papers and green spectacles, and then we can talk as long as we please, without raising any suspicions,--we can talk business." "About a will, for instance." "Certainly, the will of poor ----, whose inheritor I would so like to be." "Heavens! how well you act your rôle!" cried Madame de V----. Just then her carriage was called. "Very well," said I, as I accompanied her, "then you will expect to see your notary at three o'clock to-morrow?" "He can come, and perhaps I will be able to see him." "Are you going to Madame T----'s concert to-night?" "No, I am on my way home." "What, so early?" "Yes, I have to put my papers in order, for to-morrow I shall have an interview with the most terrible and tiresome of lawyers." Saying these words, and still laughing, she got into her carriage. I went under the portico to wait for mine; there I was accosted by fat old Pommerive, who in passing me said: "Faithless, already! It is very soon, or very late." I shrugged my shoulders, and smiled. I went to the concert, the crowd was too great. For my part I cannot enjoy music unless I am comfortably seated. I have just returned and found a long and tender letter from Marguerite awaiting me. In our conversation of this morning I chanced to say how fond I was of Parma violets. I find two enormous baskets of them in my salon. Such a souvenir, such a delicate attention, touches and charms me, but it does not make me feel really ashamed of my assiduity towards Madame de V----, who is so pretty and so charmingly vivacious.