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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—
"'Il est, dit-on, le favori,'
and these were marked purposely.
