"Oh! I know: it was Mondival. He's very good-looking, but a fool; he's conceited, and I hate conceited men. I prefer them ugly--and clever. I don't mean that for you, messieurs." And the fair Frédérique laughed aloud. The baron felt called upon to follow suit. I said nothing, for I was thinking of Armantine. My neighbor, noticing my serious face, nudged me with her knee. "Well! he has nothing to say!" she exclaimed. "Have I offended you? But, no--I said nothing that was meant for you." "Offended me? How, pray?" "He doesn't even know what I said! He's thinking of his Armantine; I was sure of it! Do you love her so much, then--with all your heart, as they say?" "Yes--that is to say, I did love her." "And it's over already, because she played the coquette?" "She paid no more attention to me than if I had been a perfect stranger." "But she hasn't known you so very long! And then, I warn you that she is extremely capricious." "Oh! I have noticed that; it's a wretched fault." "It's common enough among _petites-maîtresses_. I am not capricious, myself; to be sure, I am not a _petite-maîtresse_! Pray drink, messieurs; you lag behind. You're not lusty suppers! Look at me: I'll set you an example." Frédérique emptied her glass at one swallow. The baron tried to do the same, but swallowed it the wrong way; he left the table, to cough and stamp on the floor. The servant brought champagne and malvoisie; the supper was delicious. I began to feel less melancholy; Madame Dauberny's example led me on, and I did honor to the good cheer. The baron, having ceased to cough, resumed his seat; his cheeks were beginning to turn purple. "In a moment," said Frédérique, "I will dismiss the servant; then we will put our elbows on the table and talk nonsense." "Ja! ja! nonzenz, I like to talk nonzenz; und mit unser foot on te table; tat vill be sehr amusing." "Not the feet; that would be uncomfortable. I said elbows." "Ja! te knees." "Impromptu parties forever! they are the only merry ones. Certainly I had no idea this morning that I should have you gentlemen to supper this evening, or rather to-night; and you didn't expect to come here." "We did not foresee our good fortune." "Oh! you are stupefying with your compliments, Rochebrune! I like to believe that you talk differently to the women you love. However, there are women who like that sort of talk; Armantine doesn't detest compliments." "I assure you, madame, that I had no intention of paying you one. But one can no longer say what one thinks. This supper is a genuine piece of good fortune, so far as I am concerned: I was depressed, you have restored my good spirits; I had abandoned all hope, you have renewed it; in truth, I can't tell you why I feel so happy now! You are willing that we should say just what we think, are you not?" "Oh, yes! for I do, myself."