“Of course, child,” he said, repentantly. “I was only joking.” “And you—are you _fidèle_? On the nights when I do not meet with you—what then? Do you see some other girl?... Men are not _fidèle_.... You see other girl—lots of other girl.” “Now look here, you mustn’t say that. You’re the only girl in the world I give a snap of my finger for.... Just you.” “It is well,” she said, contentedly; and then, “We dine with thees yo’ng actor thees evening?” “Yes.” “Oh, I am glad.... It is ver’ important. He must like me, and then he will speak for me at the _Conservatoire_. You must be ver’ good friend to him so that he will speak for me.” “No, young lady, you keep away from that young actor. He’s too darned handsome. I don’t want him stealing you away from me.” “_Non.... Non...._ I do not care for him, only that he speak for me. You must not be afraid.” “Shall we take a taxi?” “No. There is much time. A taxi is much expensive. I must not make you spend all your money.” “That wouldn’t be such a hard job. I haven’t much to spend.” “It is no matter.... If you had much—that is different—then I would spend.... It is not for money that I know you—oh no. At first—then I do not know what kind of yo’ng man you are.... I take you to that expensive café. It is to punish you because you speak to me as you did.... I did not know you. But now I know you ver’ well. You have been kind.” She nodded her head in punctuation. “You have been always nice and ver’ gentle, and so I see you ver’ often.” “Nobody could help being gentle with you, _mignonne_.” “I do not know,” she said. “The worl’ it is not nice.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “All men are not nice.... It is ver’ hard, and sometimes I am most unhappy. It is so.” “But you are happy now?” She pointed her finger down at the sidewalk. “Now—thees minute—yes. In one hour in four hours it may not be so. Who can say?” It brought him again to his going away, and a real dread of making the announcement to her seized upon him. He was afraid she would cry or do some other equally distressing thing. But that was selfish. He dreaded her crying because it would be unpleasant for himself and was rather ashamed of it. He even fancied he could understand something of how she would actually feel, but he was wrong. He was groping in the darkness, wandering in the darkness of a strange mansion with many rooms and devious passages, and it was inevitable that he should miss his way.... They entered Marty’s and Monsieur Robert came forward to greet them with that delicious, boyish smile of his. “I am glad you come,” he said, bobbing his head. “My friends they shall be jealous to see me wit’ such pretty girl.”