I laughed.

Then she broke out in a plaintive cry: "Oh! were you ever dying--dying--dying of weariness ?" Gustave made no reply; the frown on his face persisted.
"Isn't it a pity," I asked, "to wreck a pleasant party for the sake of a fine distinction?
The presence of Mlle.

de Berensac would have infinitely increased our pleasure; but how would it have diminished our crime ?" "I wish I had known you sooner, Mr.Aycon," said the duchess; "then I needn't have asked him at all." I bowed, but I was content with things as they were.

The duchess sat with the air of a child who has been told that she is naughty, but declines to accept the statement.

I was puzzled at the stern morality exhibited by my friend Gustave.