Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 1.djvu/227

Rh reality more cultured than he cared to appear. He withdrew presently, noticing that Madame de Piennes glanced at the clock, and promised, not without some embarrassment, that he would go to Madame Darsenay's in the evening.

He did not come, however, and Madame de Piennes was a little vexed about it. In return, he was at her house the following morning to apologise, excusing himself upon the plea of fatigue from his journey, which obliged him to remain at home; but he lowered his eyes and talked with such a hesitating tone that it was not necessary to have the cleverness of Madame de Piennes in reading physiognomies to perceive that he was not telling the truth. When he had concluded she menaced him with her finger, without replying.

"Do you not believe me?" he said.

"No! Fortunately, you do not yet know how to lie. It was not to rest yourself from your fatigue that you did not go to Madame Darsenay's yesterday. You did not stay at home."

"Very well," replied Max with a forced smile, "you are right. I dined at the Rocher-de-Cancale with its rogues, and then went to Famin's for tea; they would not let me go, and then I gambled."