If any one had said to me, you can be her lover for ten pounds, I would have refused.

I would have cried like a child who sees the castle he has been dreaming about vanish away as he awakens from sleep.
All the same, I wished to know her; it was my only means of making up my mind about her.

I therefore said to my friend that I insisted on having her permission to be introduced to her, and I wandered to and fro in the corridors, saying to myself that in a moment's time she was going to see me, and that I should not know which way to look.

I tried (sublime childishness of love!) to string together the words I should say to her.
A moment after my friend returned.

"She is expecting us," he said.
"Is she alone ?" I asked.
"With another woman." "There are no men ?" "No." "Come, then." My friend went toward the door of the theatre.
"That is not the way," I said.
"We must go and get some sweets.