Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 3.djvu/70

---

drawn from Madame Grandoni only by the petulance and weariness of increasing age, and the antipathy she now felt to Madeira Crescent and everything it produced. Christina bent a calm, charitable smile upon her ancient companion, and replied—

'There could have been no question of our seeing him. He was, of course, at his work.'

'Ah, how do I know, my dear? And is he a successor?'

'A successor?'

'To the little bookbinder.'

'My darling,' said the Princess, 'you will see how absurd that question is when I tell you he's his greatest friend!'