doesn't go to a fashionable dress-maker!" At last Mme. Derline succeeded
in getting hold of a disengaged saleswoman, and there was the same
slightly disdainful glance--a glance which was accompanied by the
phrase:

"Madame is not a regular customer of the house?"

"No, I am not a customer--"

"And you wish?"

"A dress, a ball-dress--and I want the dress for next Thursday
evening--"

"Thursday next!"

"Yes, Thursday next."

"Oh! madame, it is not to be thought of. Even for a customer of the
house it would be impossible."

"But I wished it so much--"

"Go and see M. Arthur. He alone can--"

"And where is M. Arthur?"

"In his office. He has just gone into his office. Over there, madame,
opposite."

Mme. Derline, through a half-open door, saw a sombre and severe but
luxurious room--an ambassador's office. On the walls the great European
powers were represented by photographs--the Empress Eugenie, the
Princess of Wales, a grand-duchess of Russia, and an archduchess of
Austria. M. Arthur was there taking a few moments' rest, seated in a
large arm-chair, with an air of lassitude and exhaustion, and with a
newspaper spread out over his knees. He arose on seeing Mme. Derline
enter. In a trembling voice she repeated her wish.

"Oh, madame, a ball-dress--a beautiful ball-dress--for Thursday! I
couldn't make such a promise--I couldn't keep it. There are
responsibilities to which I never expose myself."

He spoke slowly, gravely, as a man conscious of his high position.

"Oh, I am so disappointed. It was a particular occasion and I was told
that you alone could--"

Two tears, two little tears, glittered on her eye-lashes. M. Arthur was
moved. A woman, a pretty woman, crying there, before him! Never had such
homage been paid to his genius.

"Well, madame, I am willing to make an attempt. A very simple dress--"

"Oh no, not simple. Very brilliant, on the contrary--everything that is
most brilliant. Two of my friends are customers of yours (she named
them), and I am Mme. Derline--"

"Mme. Derline! You are Mme. Derline?"

The two _Mme. Derlines_ were followed by a glance and a smile--the
glance was at the newspaper and the smile was at Mme. Derline; but it
was a discreet, self-contained smile--the smile of a perfectly gallant
man. This is what the glance and smile said with admirable clearness:

"Ah I you are Mme. Derline--that already celebrated Mme. Derline--who
yesterday at the opera--I understand, I un