"Yes--I, too--somebody's waiting for me--I too have an appointment. Did you think that that was impossible?" "In what a tone you say that! I thought simply that, in that case, you would have taken me into your confidence." "Perhaps so. I can't tell all my sentiments so easily as you can." "Then you have less confidence in me than I have in you." "That is possible." "But that is very unkind!" "Tell me, how long will this new love of yours last?" "My relations with Mademoiselle Rosette?--for you mustn't call it love." "What is it, then?" "It is a little liaison of no consequence--for amusement." "Give it whatever name you choose. Well, how long will this little liaison of no consequence, for amusement, be likely to last?" "Why do you ask?" "Because I want to know." "It's rather hard for me to answer. How is it possible to say? You see, I know nothing of the girl's temperament. Such liaisons sometimes end in a week; sometimes they last three months." "All right. Then I will come again three months hence." "What does this mean? Why do you leave me so?" "Because it seems to me that I always arrive most inopportunely and disturb you in the midst of your pleasures; and I shall do well not to intrude again, so long as you are--infatuated with this grisette." "Really, Frédérique, I can't understand you! What connection can there possibly be between my follies, my amourettes, my momentary pleasures, and our delightful friendship?" "Oh! you are quite right! Of course, there is not the slightest connection between me and your pleasures. Ah, me! I certainly do not know what I am saying to-day; my wits are all topsy-turvy. But, adieu! I repeat, I have an appointment; I must leave you. Adieu!" "But I shall see you again soon?" "Yes, soon." She left the room. There were days when I was utterly at a loss to understand that woman's changing moods. "Ah! here's Monsieur Pomponne! Just come this way, O faithful and, above all, obedient servitor!" Pomponne hung his head and stood in front of me, like a Cossack awaiting the knout. "What did I tell you when I sent you out this morning?" "You told me, monsieur, that it would take me till two o'clock at least. But I hurried and got back earlier. Monsieur tells me sometimes that I am slow, and I wanted to prove that I could be quick." "You have proved that you are a prying rascal--that's what you have proved! Another time, if you don't carry out my orders to the letter, I will discharge you." "You didn't give me any letter, monsieur." "Enough; off with you, or I may give you something else!" The next day, at half-past five, I was at the place Mademoiselle Rosette had appointed; in a few moments, I saw my new conquest approaching; she did not keep me waiting, that was another excellent quality.