A Parisian Romance — page 202: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A PARISIAN ROMANCE. 193 face. Then there was a scene of reproaches, of in- sults even. She knows how to take me. She under- stands me. Never have I seen her when she was so charming. I felt that she was going to escape me. I made a foolish play, perhaps, but I offered her a villa, furniture, and all. She accepted. So, you see, | am beaten.” “And content to be so!” observed Laubanere. The baron smiled, and twisted his mustache. “Oh! I hope that it will have its compensations. However, to finish the story. Ah! Here are the ladies.” | Announced by Ambroise, the fair Rosa, herself, appeared, followed by three girls, all young and all pretty. As Chevrial had requested, they had come straight from the theater, in the short volu- minous skirts and low corsages of their ballet cos- tume. Mademoiseile Bertoldi, a laughing blonde, was in green; Mademoiselle Lombard, in scarlet; Mademoiselle Gillette, in yellow and the premiere danseuse. Mademoiselle Rosa Guerin, was all in black—black tights, black dress, and black gloves. The only bit of color about her was the blood-red radiance of the rubies that sparkled on her neck, on her arms, and in the masses of her dark hair. The baron rose to receive his guests, but, as he © did so, his knees seemed to give way beneath his weight, and he clutched at the back of the chair for support. It was only for a moment, however, and Gomichbooks (E@) in