I made a presence of approving everything, this time also, thanks to that strange feeling that forced me to treat him the more amiably in proportion as his presence was more painful to me.

I said that I trusted to his taste, and I advised my wife to do the same.

He remained just as long as it was necessary in order to efface the unpleasant impression of my abrupt entrance with a frightened face.

He went away with an air of satisfaction at the conclusions arrived at.

As for me, I was perfectly sure that, in comparison with that which preoccupied them, the question of music was indifferent to them.