Oh, in that case, my dear fellow, I will remain. M. DE SALLUS All the evening? JACQUES DE RANDOL All the evening. M. DE SALLUS My dear De Randol, you are indeed a friend! I shall never forget it. JACQUES DE RANDOL Oh, never mind that. [_A short silence_.] Were you at the Opéra last night? M. DE SALLUS As usual. JACQUES DE RANDOL So it is a good performance? M. DE SALLUS Admirable. JACQUES DE RANDOL The Santelli scored a great success, didn't she? M. DE SALLUS Not only a success, but a veritable triumph. She was recalled six times. JACQUES DE RANDOL She _is_ good, isn't she? M. DE SALLUS More than admirable. She never sang better. In the first act she has a long recitative: “O God of all believers, hear my prayer,” which made the body of the house rise to their feet. And in the third act, after that phrase, “Bright heaven of beauty,” I never saw such enthusiasm. JACQUES DE RANDOL She was pleased? M. DE SALLUS Pleased? She was enchanted. JACQUES DE RANDOL You know her well, don't you? M. DE SALLUS Oh, yes, for some time back. I had supper with her and some of her friends after the performance. JACQUES DE RANDOL Were there many of you? M. DE SALLUS No, about a dozen. You know she is rather particular. JACQUES DE RANDOL. It is pleasant to be intimate with her, is it not? M. DE SALLUS Exquisite! And then, you know, she is a woman in a million. I do not know whether you agree with me, but I find there are so few women that are really women. JACQUES DE RANDOL [_laughs_] I have found that out. M. DE SALLUS Yes, and you have found out that there are women who have a feminine air, but who are not women. JACQUES DE RANDOL Explain yourself. M. DE SALLUS Good gracious! Our society women, with very rare exceptions, are simply pictures; they are pretty; they are distinguished; but they charm you only in their drawing-rooms. The part they play consists entirely in making men admire their dress, their dainty ways, all of which are assumed. JACQUES DE RANDOL Men love them, nevertheless. M. DE SALLUS Oh, very rarely, my dear fellow. JACQUES DE RANDOL Pardon me! M. DE SALLUS