way--by the train."

Madame Clairin was infinitely struck. "I've never known a person at all
to be so fond of Saint-Germain. They generally declare it's horribly
dull."

"That's not very polite to you," said Longmore, vexed at his lack of
superior form and determined not to be abashed.

"Ah what have I to do with it?" Madame Clairin brightly wailed. "I'm the
dullest thing here. They've not had, other gentlemen, your success with
my sister-in-law."

"It would have been very easy to have it. Madame de Mauves is kindness
itself."

She swung open her great fan. "To her own countrymen!"

Longmore remained silent; he hated the tone of this conversation.

The speaker looked at him a little and then took in their hostess, to
whom M. de Chalumeau was serving up another epigram, which the charming
creature received with a droop of the head and eyes that strayed through
the window. "Don't pretend to tell me," Madame Clairin suddenly exhaled,
"that you're not in love with that pretty woman."

"Allons donc!" cried Longmore in the most inspired French he had ever
uttered. He rose the next minute and took a hasty farewell.