"They know that I am in Paris, and I wish to
avoid the remark that would be made if I stayed away."
"You are quite right," said Wilhelm, "but you will have to go
without me."
"Don't be a bear!" she urged. "It will interest you to see this side
of Parisian life. I don't say that I would ask you to do it often,
but you might--just this once. Beside, you have been more than three
months in Paris, and you do not know one real Parisian. Now, here is
an opportunity of meeting artists, authors, academicians, senators--
and there are some remarkable men among them, well worth talking
to."
"I am sincerely grateful," he returned, and kissed her hand. "Please
do not trouble about it. I am quite sure that there are many people
in Paris I should like to meet, but they are scarcely likely to be
present at an embassy ball. And even if they were, a mere
introduction, an interchange of society platitudes, would not bring
me any further. No; go you to your ball, and leave me at home."
Pilar sighed, and gave up the struggle, and then received the
jeweler, who had brought the newly-set ornament for the hair, a
miracle of taste, delicate workmanship, and splendor.
In the afternoon Monsieur Martin, the prince of Paris hairdressers,
arrived, to compose her a coiffure for the ball.
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