"But we are talking of very serious subjects," said Albert, after a pause; "whereas I had no purpose to speak of anything but my love. Tell me, do you not love me a little?" Madame Baldimer made no reply, but she allowed her hand to be pressed, heaved a sigh, and turned her eyes away. The young man was overjoyed; he thought that his love was beginning to touch the heart that he burned to subjugate, and he was about to put to his lips the hand that he held in his, when Madame Baldimer rose abruptly and began to pace the floor. "Did you see Madame Plays at Count Dahlborne's last reception?" she asked, in a very vivacious tone. "She wore the sweetest cashmere; it fairly turned my head; so much so, that I dreamed of it, and I think of it all the time. There's one just like it at Delille's. They are the handsomest shawls there are in Paris to-day. I was tempted for a moment to buy it; but it costs too much; and one would be very foolish to yield to all one's fancies." Albert was utterly disconcerted. At the very moment when he thought that she was about to respond to his loving protestations, she began to talk about cashmeres! That abrupt sally so bewildered him that he gazed at Madame Baldimer in blank amazement, and did not know what to reply. She returned to her seat on the divan, and continued in a most amiable tone: "Pardon me; here I am talking about clothes, now; I am very frivolous, am I not?" "You are charming always--if only you would be a little more sentimental! When I speak of my love, you change the subject." "Why, no--for that Madame Plays has been your mistress, has she not?" "No, I give you my word of honor." "Come, come, don't lie about it! As if one could not detect such things at once, however little one knows the world! Besides, Madame Plays made no secret of it--quite the contrary; that husband of hers is so obliging!" "For heaven's sake, let us drop Madame Plays! I did not ask for a tête-à-tête with you, to talk about her!" "I fancy not. But her shawl is so pretty--and I thought that someone said that you gave it to her." "No, indeed! that is not true!" "You won't admit it, of course--such a beautiful present! Were you so very much in love with that woman?" "Once more, madame, I assure you that you are mistaken." "Very well--it is possible; I am willing to believe you. But, oh! what a stunning shawl that is!" Albert said nothing more. A thousand thoughts passed through his mind, and his brow began to darken. Madame Baldimer, noticing it, became more vivacious, more amiable, more tender, than ever; one would have said that she feared that the passion she had aroused might disappear, and that she was exerting herself to the utmost to prevent Albert's love from escaping her. He was altogether bewildered by the cajoleries which she lavished upon him; his hope that his flame was at last shared awoke to new life; indeed, Madame Baldimer's conduct fully justified that hope.