He was thinking of you, my dear!" "Ah! you quote poetry now, dear madam," said Madame Durmaitre, who is not very skilled at retort.
"Why not, dear madam?
Have you a monopoly of it?
--'Pleurante apres son char ?' I have heard Rachel say that.

By the way, it is not by Lamartine, it's by Boileau.

I must tell you, dear Nathalie, that I intend to ask you to give me lessons in serious and virtuous conversation.

It's so amusing! And to begin at once, come! tell me whom you prefer, Lamartine or Boileau ?" "But, Bathilde, there is no connection," replied Madame Durmaitre, rather sensibly and much too candidly.
"Ah!" rejoined Madame de Palme.

And suddenly pointing me out with her finger: "You perhaps prefer this gentleman, who also writes poetry ?" "No, madam," I said, "it is a mistake; I write none." "Ah! I thought you did.