This time, perhaps, he'll make up his mind!" "Oh, well and good!" said the countess, laughing.

"If we only can get Monsieur de Vandeuvres! But he's too much engaged." "And Philippe ?" queried Muffat.
"Philippe has asked for a furlough," replied the old lady, "but without doubt you won't be at Les Fondettes any longer when he arrives." The coffee was served.

Paris was now the subject of conversation, and Steiner's name was mentioned, at which Mme Hugon gave a little cry.
"Let me see," she said; "Monsieur Steiner is that stout man I met at your house one evening.

He's a banker, is he not?
Now there's a detestable man for you! Why, he's gone and bought an actress an estate about a league from here, over Gumieres way, beyond the Choue.

The whole countryside's scandalized.