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the equal innocence of two loving and passionate beingswhat guarantees
for the future in the remembrance which a man preserves of his first
love！
We say； then； that Adrienne was only half…satisfied； though convinced by
the vexation of Rose…Pompon that Djalma had never entertained a serious
attachment for the grisette。
〃And why do you detest me； miss？〃 said Adrienne mildly； when Rose…Pompon
had finished her speech。
〃Oh！ bless me； madame！〃 replied the latter； forgetting altogether her
assumption of triumph； and yielding to the natural sincerity of her
character； 〃pretend that you don't know why I detest you！Oh； yes！
people go and pick bouquets from the jaws of a panther for people that
they care nothing about； don't they？ And if it was only that！〃 added
Rose…Pompon； who was gradually getting animated； and whose pretty face；
at first contracted into a sullen pout； now assumed an expression of real
and yet half…comic sorrow。
〃And if it was only the nosegay！〃 resumed she。 〃Though it gave me a
dreadful turn to see Prince Charming leap like a kid upon the stage； I
might have said to myself： ‘Pooh！ these Indians have their own way of
showing politeness。 Here； a lady drops her nosegay； and a gentleman
picks it up and gives it to her； but in India it is quite another thing；
the man picks up the nosegay； and does not return it to the womanhe
only kills a panther before her eyes。' Those are good manners in that
country； I suppose； but what cannot be good manners anywhere is to treat
a woman as I have been treated。 And all thanks to you； madame！〃
These complaints of Rose…Pompon； at once bitter and laughable； did not at
all agree with what she had previously stated as to Djalma's passionate
love for her； but Adrienne took care not to point out this contradiction；
and said to her； mildly： 〃You must be mistaken； miss； when you suppose
that I had anything to do with your troubles。 But； in any case； I regret
sincerely that you should have been ill…treated by any one。〃
〃If you think I have been beaten； you are quite wrong；〃 exclaimed Rose…
Pompon。 〃Ah！ well； I am sure！ No； it is not that。 But I am certain
that； had it not been for you； Prince Charming would have got to love me
a little。 I am worthy of the trouble； after alland then there are
different sorts of loveI am not so very particularnot even so much as
that；〃 added Rose…Pompon； snapping her fingers。
〃Ah！〃 she continued； 〃when Ninny Moulin came to fetch me； and brought me
jewels and laces to persuade me to go with him； he was quite right in
saying there was no harm in his offers。〃
〃Ninny Moulin？〃 asked Mdlle。 de Cardoville； becoming more and more
interested； 〃who is this Ninny Moulin； miss？〃
〃A religious writer；〃 answered Rose…Pompon； pouting； 〃the right…hand man
of a lot of old sacristans； whose money he takes on pretense of writing
about morality and religion。 A fine morality it is！〃
At these words〃a religious writer〃〃sacristans〃 Adrienne instantly
divined some new plot of Rodin or Father d'Aigrigny； of which she and
Djalma were to have been the victims。 She began vaguely to perceive the
real state of the case； as she resumed： 〃But； miss； under what pretence
could this man take you away with him？〃
〃He came to fetch me； and said I need not fear for my virtue； and was
only to make myself look pretty。 So I said to myself： 'Philemon's out of
town； and it's very dull here all alone： This seems a droll affair； what
can I risk by it？'Alas！ I didn't know what I risked；〃 added Rose…
Pompon； with a sigh。 〃Well！ Ninny Moulin takes me away in a fine
carriage。 We stop in the Place du Palais…Royal。 A sullen…looking man；
with a yellow face； gets up in the room of Ninny Moulin； and takes me to
the house of Prince Charming。 When I saw himla！ he was so handsome； so
very handsome； that I was quite dizzy…like； and he had such a kind； noble
air； that I said to myself； 'Well！ there will be some credit if I remain
a good girl now！'I did not know what a true word I was speaking。 I
have been goodoh！ worse than good。〃
〃What； miss！ do you regret having been so virtuous？〃
〃Why； you see； I regret； at least； that I have not had the pleasure of
refusing。 But how can you refuse； when nothing is askedwhen you are
not even thought worth one little loving word？〃
〃But； miss； allow me to observe to you that the indifference of which you
complain does not see to have prevented your making a long stay in the
house in question。〃
〃How should I know why the prince kept me there； or took me out riding
with him； or to the play？ Perhaps it is the fashion in his savage
country to have a pretty girl by your side； and to pay no attention to
her at all！〃
〃But why； then； did you remain； miss？〃
〃Why did I remain？〃 said Rose…Pompon； stamping her loot with vexation。
〃I remained because； without knowing how it happened； I began to get very
fond of Prince Charming； and what is queer enough； I； who am as gay as a
lark； loved him because he was so sorrowful； which shows that it was a
serious matter。 At last； one day； I could hold out no longer。 I said：
‘Never mind； I don't care for the consequences。 Philemon； I am sure； is
having his fun in the country。' That set my mind at ease。 So one
morning； I dress myself in my best； all very pretty； look in my glass；
and say： 〃Well； that will dohe can't stand that；！' and； going to his
room； I tell him all that passes through my head； I laugh； I cryat last
I tell him that I adore him。 What do you think he answers； in his mild
voice； and as cold as a piece of marble？ Why； ‘Poor childpoor child
poor child！'〃 added Rose…Pompon； with indignation； 〃neither more nor less
than if I had come to complain to him of the toothache。 But the worst of
it is that I am sure； if he were not in love elsewhere； he would be all
fire and gunpowder。 Only now he is so sad； so dejected！〃
Then； pausing a moment； Rose…Pompon added： 〃No； I will not tell you that；
you would be too pleased。〃 But； after another pause； she continued：
〃Well； never mind； I will tell you； though〃； and this singular girl
looked at Mdlle。 de Cardoville with a mixture of sympathy and deference。
〃Why should I keep it from you？ I began by riding the high horse； and
saying that the prince wished to marry me； and I finished by confessing
that he almost turned me out。 Well； it's not my fault； when I try to
fib； I am sure to get confused。 So； madame； this is the plain truth：
When I met you at poor Mother Bunch's； I was at first as angry as a
little turkey…cock； but when I heard you； that are such a fine great
lady； speak so kindly to the poor girl； and treat her as your sister； do
what I would； my anger began to go away。 Since we have been here； I have
done my utmost to get it up again； but I find it impossible； and the more
I see the difference between us； the more I perceive that Prince Charming
was right in thinking so much of you。 For you must know； madame； that he
is over head and ears in love with you。 I don't say so merely because he
killed the panther for you at the Porte…Saint…Martin； but if you knew all
the tricks he played with your bouquet； and how he will sit up all night
weeping