[Illustration: “Adieu, madam, I shall call again soon, since you permit me to come to bore you like this sometimes.”
“Yes, mamma, you said the other day he was a bore.”
“It is not true!... Mamma, George is telling lies again!... Mamma said he was stupid and a bore!... Now!”]
[Illustration: “I am keeping a ticket for you, my dear Charles, for Chantereine; I am playing the ‘Maid of Honour.’”
_1st Criticism._--“It is impossible to exhibit more wit, more gaiety, more cleverness than does Madame Polydor in the part of Suzette; it is impossible to be more refined and elegant.”
_2nd Criticism._--“Decidedly, Madame Polydor shows herself more insignificant than ever in the part of Suzette.”
_3rd Criticism._--“Etc., etc., etc., etc.”]
“See: the waves of the inhuman sea have left nothing for us on the sand. The blighting wind of the desert has passed over the traveller’s tree, and its branch, alas! is withered.... Alas! my eyes have sought in vain the life-giving seeds in the odorous grass that the tempest has levelled, and in the abandoned nests of the young birds of the shore!... O, mother!... mother!... I hunger!”
“At last, then, you have come, oh monster, soiled with crime!”]
[Illustration: “Oh, Lord! protect a Christian virgin.”]
[Illustration: “We sup at Véry’s, Chozikof and I, with Mlle. Beaupertuis.... Will you come, my charmer?”
“Your proposal, Count, is of a nature likely to compromise gravely the interests of our faithful ally, England.... Nevertheless we shall consider it; but, whatever we resolve, we shall keep it secret from Russia; we give you, Count, our royal word.”]
[Illustration: “Madame Charmant, you spoke the pavilion scene like an angel: it is perfect! but do not mount the stairs so quickly; you must leave Sir Arthur time to kill himself.”]
[Illustration: “Does Madame de Saint-Aiglemont live here, madam, if you please?”
“Yes ... M’ame Chiffet!... you’re wanted.”]
[Illustration: “Come on! come on! will you ever have the yard swept this morning.... It is eight o’clock already!... and you have the middle flat’s boots to do yet and your piano to study....”]
[Illustration: “Why deprive oneself of the superfluous, when one can dispense with the necessary? With what a housekeeper costs, one has two stalls at the opera.”]