"A little conversation!" "Conversation--that's it!" murmured Mademoiselle Noemie, who had caught the word.

"The conversation of the best society." "Our French conversation is famous, you know," M.Nioche ventured to continue.

"It's a great talent." "But isn't it awfully difficult ?" asked Newman, very simply.
"Not to a man of esprit, like monsieur, an admirer of beauty in every form!" and M.Nioche cast a significant glance at his daughter's Madonna.
"I can't fancy myself chattering French!" said Newman with a laugh.

"And yet, I suppose that the more a man knows the better." "Monsieur expresses that very happily.

Helas, oui!" "I suppose it would help me a great deal, knocking about Paris, to know the language." "Ah, there are so many things monsieur must want to say: difficult things!" "Everything I want to say is difficult.