"
All Paris knows the beauty of that young actress, and will therefore
understand the stupefaction of the Southerner on seeing her. Though
she had received him at first rather coldly, he became the object of
her good graces before they had been many minutes alone together.
"How strange!" said Gazonal, looking round him disdainfully on the
furniture of the salon, the door of which his accomplices had left
half open, "that a woman like you should be allowed to live in such an
ill-furnished apartment."
"Ah, yes, indeed! but how can I help it? Massol is not rich; I am
hoping he will be made a minister."
"What a happy man!" cried Gazonal, heaving the sigh of a provincial.
"Good!" thought she. "I shall have new furniture, and get the better
of Carabine."
"Well, my dear!" said Leon, returning, "you'll be sure to come to
Carabine's to-night, won't you?--supper and lansquenet."
"Will monsieur be there?" said Jenny Cadine, looking artlessly and
graciously at Gazonal.
"Yes, madame," replied the countryman, dazzled by such rapid success.
"But Massol will be there," said Bixiou.
"Well, what of that?" returned Jenny. "Come, we must part, my
treasures; I must go to the theatre."
Gazonal gave his hand to the actress, and led her to the citadine
which was waiting for her; as he did so he pressed hers with such
ardor that Jenny Cadine exclaimed, shaking her fingers: "Take care! I
haven't any others.
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