which swept away hesitation on his part:

"Of course Muscade will come to dinner on Saturday. We have only to
ask him, for he and I intend to commit a lot of follies in the
country."

He thought he divined the birth of a promise in her smile, and in
her voice he heard what he thought was invitation.

Then the Marquise turned her big, black eyes upon Saval: "And you
will, of course, come, Baron?"

With a smile that forbade doubt, he bent toward her, saying, "I
shall be only too charmed, Madame."

Then Yvette murmured with malice that was either naive or
traitorous: "We will set all the world by the ears down there, won't
we, Muscade, and make my regiment of admirers fairly mad." And with
a look, she pointed out a group of men who were looking at them from
a little distance.

Said Servigny to her: "As many follies as YOU may please,
Mam'zelle."

In speaking to Yvette, Servigny never used the word "Mademoiselle,"
by reason of his close and long intimacy with her.

Then Saval asked: "Why does Mademoiselle always call my friend
Servigny 'Muscade'?"