"I understand," said she, and compressed her lips a little more
tightly.
"But what do you understand?"
"The rare attractions of Mlle. Binet. Naturally you would be at
the theatre. Your tone conveyed it very clearly. Do you know that
you disappoint me, Andre? It is stupid of me, perhaps; it betrays,
I suppose, my imperfect knowledge of your sex. I am aware that
most young men of fashion find an irresistible attraction for
creatures who parade themselves upon the stage. But I did not
expect you to ape the ways of a man of fashion. I was foolish
enough to imagine you to be different; rather above such trivial
pursuits. I conceived you something of an idealist."
"Sheer flattery."
"So I perceive. But you misled me. You talked so much morality of
a kind, you made philosophy so readily, that I came to be deceived.
In fact, your hypocrisy was so consummate that I never suspected it.
With your gift of acting I wonder that you haven't joined Mlle.
Binet's troupe."
"I have," said he.
It had really become necessary to tell her, making choice of the
lesser of the two evils with which she confronted him.
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