A cigar, skilfully held in one corner of his mouth, did not prevent him from warbling between each puff some snatches of Italian airs of which he seemed to possess a complete repertoire.

In spite of this triple occupation he sustained a conversation with the ease of a man who, like Caesar, could have dictated to three secretaries at once if necessary.
"Dell' Assiria, ai semidei Aspirar--" "I have already asked you not to purse up your mouth so, Mademoiselle Reine; it gives you a Watteau air radically bourgeois." "What sort of air does it give me ?" she asked, anxiously.
"A Watteau, Regence, Pompadour air.

You have a large mouth, and we will leave it natural, if you please." "I have a large mouth!" exclaimed Reine, blushing with anger; "how polite you are!" And she pinched up her lips until she reduced them to nearly the size of Montmorency cherries.
"Stop this vulgar way of judging of art, queen of my heart.

Learn that there is nothing more appetizing than a large mouth.

I do not care for rosebud mouths!" "If it is the fashion!" murmured the young girl, in a pleased tone, as she spread out horizontally her vermillion lips, which might have extended from ear to ear, not unlike--if we can credit that slanderer, Bussy-Rabutin-the amorous smile of Mademoiselle de la Valliere.
"Why did you not let me put on my gold necklace?
"That would have given my portrait a smarter look.