“Don’t be cross. Agreed then. If he wins, he’ll pay the money back to you. But if he loses, it’s you who’ll pay me. Is that all right?” She pressed a bell. “Bring a bottle of Tokay and three glasses, please.... And if he comes back with the five thousand and no more--he shall keep it, eh? If he neither loses nor wins....” “That’s unheard of. It’s odd what an interest you take in him.” “It’s odd that you don’t think him interesting.” “You think him interesting because you’re in love with him.” “Yes, my dear boy, that’s true. One doesn’t mind admitting that to _you_. But that’s not the reason he interests me. On the contrary--as a rule, when my head’s attracted, the rest of me turns cold.” A servant came in with wine and glasses on a tray. “First of all let’s seal our bet, and afterwards we’ll have another glass in honour of the winner.” The servant poured out the wine and they drank to each other. “Personally, I think your Vincent a bore.” “Oh, ‘my Vincent’!... As if it hadn’t been you who brought him here! And then, I advise you not to go repeating everywhere that you think him a bore. Your reason for frequenting him would be too obvious.” Robert turned a little to put his lips on Lilian’s bare foot; she drew it away quickly and covered it with her fan. “Must I blush?” said he. “It’s not worth while trying as far as I am concerned. You couldn’t succeed.” She emptied her glass, and then: “D’you know what, my dear friend? You have all the qualities of a man of letters--you are vain, hypocritical, fickle, selfish....” “You are too flattering!” “Yes; that’s all very charming--but you’ll never be a good novelist.” “Because?” “Because you don’t know how to listen.” “It seems to me I’m listening admirably.” “Pooh! _He_ isn’t a writer and he listens a great deal better. But when we are together, _I_ am the one to listen.” “He hardly knows how to speak.” “That’s because you never stop talking yourself.” “I know everything he’s going to say beforehand.” “You think so? Do you know the story of his affair with that woman?” “Oh! Love affairs! The dullest things in the world!” “And then I like it when he talks about natural history.” “Natural history is even duller than love affairs. Does he give you lectures then?”