Evidently a person of rich humour, the speaker: "madame la comtesse" was abruptly convulsed with laughter; the chubby gentleman roared; Mr. Phinuit looked up from the carte with an enquiring, receptive smile; the waiter grinned broadly.

What does madame desire?" smiling benevolently.

She had come, she said, to bid her dear madame farewell, for she was resolved to go.

"Is it really necessary that I should meet her?" "That, of course, will be as madame pleases.

Madame pour intendant, et je suis charmé qu'il vous revienne.

But madame saidgoing also to natural history for her comparisonthat one must be a rhinoceros to continue the former routine.

That pitiful old body over by the stove, shaking with palsy, was once a gay, rich countess; the invalid whom madame visits was a marquise.