Page:Teleny, or The Reverse of the Medal, t. I.djvu/37

 and I really cannot afford to displease the ladies;' and with a stealthy glance at Briancourt, 'Can I?' he added.

No, that would be a crime against the fair sex,' replied one.

Moreover, the other musicians would say I did it out of spite; for no one is gifted with such strong feelings of jealousy as amateurs, be they actors, singers, or instrumentalists, so au revoir.'

"Then, with a deeper bow than he had vouchsafed to the public, he was about to leave the room, when he stopped again: 'But you, M. Des Grieux, you said you were not going to stay, may I request the pleasure of your company?'

Most willingly,' said I, eagerly.

"Briancourt again smiled ironically—why, I could not understand. Then he hummed a snatch of "Madame Angot," which operetta was then in fashion, the only words which caught my ears being—

and these were marked purposely.