In her lace and velvet, with a good display of smooth black stocking and of snowy petticoat, and with the refined profile of her face and slender plumpness of her body, she showed in singular contrast to the big, black, intellectual satyr by the fire.
'How often do you send for me ?' she cried.

'It is compromising.' Gondremark laughed.

'Speaking of that,' said he, 'what in the devil's name were you about?
You were not home till morning.' 'I was giving alms,' she said.
The Baron again laughed loud and long, for in his shirt-sleeves he was a very mirthful creature.

'It is fortunate I am not jealous,' he remarked.
'But you know my way: pleasure and liberty go hand in hand.

I believe what I believe; it is not much, but I believe it .-- But now to business.
Have you not read my letter ?' 'No,' she said; 'my head ached.' 'Ah, well! then I have news indeed!' cried Gondremark.