You would not require more than the law, would you ?" "No, but--" "For what are you waiting, then ?" concluded Madame Steno.

"That it may be too late?
How about your lands ?" "Ah! let me breathe, let me fan myself," said Ardea, who, indeed, took one of the Countess's fans from the desk.

"I, who have never known in the morning what I would do in the evening, I, who have always lived according to my pleasure, you ask me to take in five minutes the resolution to bind myself forever!" "I ask you to decide what you wish to do," returned the Countess.

"It is very amusing to travel at one's pleasure.

But when it is a question of arranging one's life, this childishness is too absurd.