Mademoiselle la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere is a young lady perfectly well-conducted." "Perfectly well-conducted do you say ?" "Yes." "Then you have not heard the last rumor ?" exclaimed Saint-Aignan.
"No, and you will do me a service, my dear comte, in keeping this report to yourself and to those who circulate it." "Ah! bah! you take the matter up very seriously." "Yes; Mademoiselle de Valliere is beloved by one of my best friends." Saint-Aignan started.

"Aha!" he said.
"Yes, comte," continued Guiche; "and consequently, you, the most distinguished man in France for polished courtesy of manner, will understand that I cannot allow my friend to be placed in a ridiculous position." Saint-Aignan began to bite his nails, partially from vexation, and partially from disappointed curiosity.

Guiche made him a very profound bow.
"You send me away," said Saint-Aignan, who was dying to know the name of the friend.
"I do not send you away, my dear fellow.

I am going to finish my lines to Phyllis." "And those lines--" "Are a _quatrain_.

You understand, I trust, that a _quatrain_ is a serious affair ?" "Of course." "And as, of these four lines, of which it is composed, I have yet three and a half to make, I need my undivided attention." "I quite understand.