One might have described it as an experiment, marking the birth of an appetite and of an enjoyment.

Then he forgot where he was, fell into brown study and in thought even harked back to that vague confidential announcement imparted to him one evening in the dining room of a restaurant.

Impelled by a sort of sensuous curiosity, he had always wanted an introduction into the Muffats' circle, and now that his friend was in Mexico through all eternity, who could tell what might happen?
"We shall see," he thought.

It was a folly, doubtless, but the idea kept tormenting him; he felt himself drawn on and his animal nature aroused.

The big chair had a rumpled look--its nether cushions had been tumbled, a fact which now amused him.
"Well, shall we be off ?" asked La Faloise, mentally vowing that once outside he would find out the name of the woman with whom people were going to sup.
"All in good time," replied Fauchery.
But he was no longer in any hurry and excused himself on the score of the invitation he had been commissioned to give and had as yet not found a convenient opportunity to mention.