self: "My type, exactly my type! And
what style--what style in the simplicity of that costume! And the little
toque, a little on one side over the ear--it's a masterpiece! How well
she knows how to dress! What an effect she would make in an audience!
And that little English accent!"

For she had a little English accent; she had even taken a good deal of
trouble for several years to acquire that little accent. She used to say
to her governess, Miss Butler:

"Yes, of course I want to know English, but I wish especially to speak
French with an English accent." She had worked for nothing else. She had
been, fortunately, rewarded for her perseverance; her little
Anglo-Parisian gibberish was at times quite original.

While Maurice was retracing his steps with Mlle. Martha, Raoul placed
himself at a table in the dining-car. He soon saw them come back with
mamma's shawl. Maurice lingered for a few minutes at the table where the
mother and the young brother of the little blonde were lunching. Then he
came back to Raoul, who said as soon as he approached:

"Who is she--quick, tell me, who is she? Whenever one pleases I will
marry her--now, on getting down from the train. In my arms! I held her
in my arms! Such a waist! A dream! There are, as you must know, slim
waists and slim waists. There are waists which are slim, hard, harsh,
stiff, bony, or mechanically made by odious artifices in the corsets. I
have thoroughly studied the corset question. It's so important! And then
there's the true slim waist, which is easy, natural, supple. Supple
isn't sufficient for what just slid through my hands a short time ago.
Slippery--yes, that's the word. Slippery just expresses my thought--a
slippery waist!"

Raoul was quite charmed with what he said.

"Yes," he continued, "slippery; and that little pug-nose! and her little
eyes have quite a--a Chinese air! But who is she, who is she?"

"The daughter of one of my mother's friends."

"Is she rich?"

"Very rich."

"It's on account of papa that I asked you that, because I would marry
her without a dowry. It's the first time I've ever said such a thing on
meeting a young girl. And now the name."

"Mlle. Martha Derame."

"Derame, did you say?"

"Yes."

"Isn't the father a wealthy merchant who has business in Japan and
China?"

"The same."

"Ah, my dear fellow--no; one only sees such things in the comic plays
of the minor theatres, at Cluny or Dejazet."

"What's the matter wit