She examined him tenderly, laying her two hands on his shoulders, then pushed him back far from her with an angry thrust: "I don't believe you.... You lie.... You have a woman's eyes!" She began to cry again. In the half light which came through the blinds, as at the rehearsal of a play, near his mistress who moaned as if she were in the last act of a melodrama, Gerald began to feel too weary to justify himself. "Come, my little Zozé, mon petit Zozo!" he still murmured from time to time, mechanically, to put himself in countenance. Nevertheless, the scene lasted too long; it was getting on his nerves. The proud nobleman confusedly rebelled under the lover's anxiety. Zozé's brusque way had really hurt his feelings. He, Gerald de Meuze, allowing himself to be bullied by a mere Mme. Chambannes? No matter how docile, no matter what a charming pal Zozé was, he was beginning almost to regret the women of his own caste. Of course, among them there were a few _amoureuses_, a few sentimentalists, notorious sticklers who were known as such. But one was duly warned and only ventured into an affair with open eyes! On the other hand, what agreeable natures these people had; how easy and merry they were; and how well they understood life! Ah! neither the young Chitré, for instance, nor Mme. de Baugy, nor even that plump cherub, Mme. Torcieux, would have made so much noise for such a banal little trick! They would have pouted a while; they might have left him. But there would have been neither scandal nor sobs. Two or three sharp words at first--then a firm handshake, to make it up or to part, and that would have been all. For they knew what a man was, what a flirtation or an adventure meant. They were women of the world!... Suddenly, between two jolts, Zozé asked in a tone of stupefaction. "Oh! Raldo.... How could you?... How?... How?..." How could he! Poor little one, what exquisite things she said! He repressed a smile, then, softened at once by the candor of her query, he replied: "I'll tell you later ... some day, when I am absolutely sure that it can no longer hurt you...." "Some day?... What day?" Zozé exclaimed haughtily.... "Do you suppose that I shall ever see you again?... Don't you feel that it is all over?" He drew her close to him. "So, then, don't you love me any more?" Zozé panted, unable to answer. Tears ran down her cheeks which were contracted by a spasm of pain.