My former Professor of Mathematics resided within a short distance of my friend's house, and I decided to visit that worthy before delivering my stomach to all the dainties of friendship. I penetrated easily to the interior of a cabinet where everything was covered with dust, attesting the honorable distractions of the savant. A surprise awaited me. I beheld a pretty woman seated upon the arm of a large chair as though on horseback. She made me one of those little conventional grimaces reserved by housewives for persons whom they do not know, but she did not so disguise the pouting air which clouded her face on my arrival, but that I could perceive the inopportuneness of my presence. Doubtless busy with an equation, my teacher had not yet raised his head; so I waved my right hand toward the lady, like a fish moving his fin, and withdrew on tiptoe with a mysterious smile which might be interpreted, 'It certainly shall not be I who will hinder you from making him commit an infidelity to Polymnia.' She made one of those gestures of the head of which it is impossible to describe the graceful vivacity.
"'Eh, my good friend, don't go away,' cried the geometrician. 'It is my wife.'
"Then I saluted her more particularly. O! Coulon, where wert thou at that moment to applaud the only one of thy pupils who comprehended thy expression, 'anacreontic,' as applied to a reverence! The effect must have been very penetrating, for Madame de M. blushed and rose to go, returning a slight salute which seemed to say, 'adorable!'
"Her husband detained her, saying, 'Remain, my child. It is one of my pupils. The young wife advanced her head toward the scholar, like a bird perched upon a branch stretching its neck to receive a grain.
