Chapter

 1 7 |         with one of my friends, Gaston R…. We returned to Paris
 2 7 |   without my meeting her. I met Gaston and asked after her. ~"Poor
 3 8 |       them now. ~I went back to Gaston and told him of the arrangement
 4 8 |         dreadfully bored," said Gaston. ~"We spend most of our
 5 8 |          poor Marguerite!" said Gaston, sitting down to the piano
 6 8 |       said Prudence, listening. Gaston stopped. ~"She is calling
 7 8 |      idea of hospitality," said Gaston, laughing; "we won't go
 8 8 |        I know Marguerite," said Gaston; I can very well pay her
 9 8 |         window. I followed with Gaston as she opened the window.
10 8 |     called?" ~"You know one, M. Gaston R." ~"Ah, yes, I know him.
11 8 |      forgotten. ~"I knew," said Gaston, "that she would be delighted
12 9 |           Good-evening, my dear Gaston," said Marguerite to my
13 9 |       in which she greeted him, Gaston was not and never had been
14 9 |   motioning to us to sit down, "Gaston knows what my music is like.
15 9 |       the first, it is time for Gaston and me to be going." ~"Not
16 9 |       go and have supper," said Gaston. ~"No, we will have supper
17 9 |     from eleven to twelve. Now, Gaston, play the Invitation A la
18 9 |     part, the part in sharps." ~Gaston rose and went to the piano,
19 9 |        in a low voice, and when Gaston had come to the passage
20 9 |       can not do. Over again." ~Gaston began over again, after
21 9 | accompanied without difficulty. Gaston knew the song, and they
22 9 |         moment; then she called Gaston and went into the dining-room
23 9 |   leaning against the wall, and Gaston, holding her hands, was
24 9 |         And, slipping away from Gaston, Marguerite made him sit
25 9 |    Prudence, and of Marguerite. Gaston was thoroughly amused; he
26 9 |         with Marguerite?" asked Gaston. ~"She has been laughing
27 10|        I recognised the hand of Gaston. ~"We are talking sense,"
28 10|       Nanine?" she said, seeing Gaston and Prudence alone. ~"She
29 10|        go." ~Ten minutes after, Gaston and I left the house. Marguerite
30 10|  remained behind. ~"Well," said Gaston, when we were in the street, "
31 11|          why did she not choose Gaston, who was rich, witty, and
32 11|     what is your friend called? Gaston R., his name is, isn't it?" ~"
33 11|   smiling, as I thought of what Gaston had confided to me, and
34 13|        sees it. Ask your friend Gaston; there's a man who seems
35 14|      the boulevards, when I met Gaston, who asked me where I had
36 14|     These simple reflections of Gaston showed me how absurd had