do it no harm."

"She offers me no patte de velours; she is all form and reserve with
me."

"That to begin with; let respect be the foundation, affection the first
floor, love the superstructure; Mdlle. Reuter is a skilful architect."

"And interest, M. Pelet--interest. Will not mademoiselle consider that
point?"

"Yes, yes, no doubt; it will be the cement between every stone. And now
we have discussed the directress, what of the pupils? N'y-a-t-il pas de
belles etudes parmi ces jeunes tetes?"

"Studies of character? Yes; curious ones, at least, I imagine; but one
cannot divine much from a first interview."

"Ah, you affect discretion; but tell me now, were you not a little
abashed before these blooming young creatures?

"At first, yes; but I rallied and got through with all due sang-froid."

"I don't believe you."

"It is true, notwithstanding. At first I thought them angels, but they
did not leave me long under that delusion; three of the eldest and
handsomest undertook the task of setting me right, and they managed
so cleverly that in five minutes I knew them, at least, for what they
were--three arrant coquettes."

"Je les connais!" exclaimed M. Pelet. "Elles sont toujours au premier
rang a l'eglise et a la promenade; une blonde superbe, une jolie
espiegle, une belle brune."

"Exactly."

"Lovely creatures all of them--heads for artists; what a group they
would make, taken together! Eulalie (I know their names), with her
smooth braided hair and calm ivory brow. Hortense, with her rich chesnut
locks so luxuriantly knotted, plaited, twisted, as if she did not know
how to dispose of all their abundance, with her vermilion lips, damask
cheek, and roguish laughing eye. And Caroline de Blemont! Ah, there is
beauty! beauty in perfection. What a cloud of sable curls about the face
of a houri! What fascinating lips! What glorious black eyes! Your Byron
would have worshipped her, and you--you cold, frigid islander!--you
played the austere, the insensible in the presence of an Aphrodite so
exquisite?"

I might have laughed at the director's enthusiasm had I believed
it real, but there was something in his tone which indicated got-up
raptures. I felt he was only affecting fervour in order to put me off my
guard, to induce me to come out in return, so I scarcely even smiled. He
went on:

"Confess, William, do not the mere good looks of Zoraide Reuter appear
dowdyish and commonplace compared with the splendid cha