"I have the women, I don't care a hang for the rest!" exclaimed Mouret, with a brutal frankness born of his passion.
At this cry Baron Hartmann appeared somewhat moved. His smile lost its touch of irony and he glanced at the young man, gradually won over by the confidence he displayed and feeling a growing friendship for him.
"Hush!" he murmured, paternally, "they will hear you."
But the ladies were now all speaking at once, so excited that they did not even listen to each other. Madame de Boves was finishing the description of an evening-dress; a mauve silk tunic, draped and caught up by bows of lace; the bodice cut very low, with similar bows of lace on the shoulders.
"You'll see," said she. "I am having a bodice made like it, with some satin——"
"For my part," interrupted Madame Bou
