Many puerile incidents and ridiculous events occur in life, which it would render impossible for the most imperturbable of mandarins to struggle against in order to preserve his gravity.  When Louis XIV, this king so expert in courtly ways, dressed his hair alone behind his curtains before presenting himself to the eyes of his courtiers, he feared that this disarray of costume might compromise even his royal majesty.  So, upon such authority, if one looks upon a complete head of hair as indispensable to the dignity of manhood, the same reasoning should exist for the covering of one’s feet.  In less than a second, Madame de Bergenheim comprehended that in such circumstances prudish airs would fail of their effect.  Meanwhile, the agreeable side of her position operated within her; she felt unable to keep up the show of anger that she had wished to assume.  The involuntary smile upon her lips smoothed her forehead as a ray of sun dissipates a cloud.  Thus, disposed to clemency by reflection or fascination, it was in a very sweet and coaxing voice that she said:  “Octave, give me my slipper.”  Gerfaut gazed at the lovely face bent toward him with an expression of childish entreaty, then he glanced with an irresolute air at the trophy which he held in his hand.  This slipper, which was as small as Cinderella’s, was not green, but gray, the lining was of rose-colored silk, and the whole was so pretty, coquettish, and dainty that it seemed impossible its owner could be vexed with him if he examined it closely.  “I will give it back to you,” said he, at last, “on condition that you will allow me to put it on for you.”

“As to that, certainly not,” said she, in a sharp tone; “I should much prefer to leave it with you and return home as I am.”

Gerfaut shook his head and smiled incredulously.

“Think of your delicate lungs and of this terrible mud?”

Clemence drew her foot suddenly back under her skirt, concealing it entirely from the sight of the young man, who gazed at it more than she thought proper.  Then she exclaimed, with the obstinacy of a spoiled child: 

“Very well!  I will return hopping on one foot; I could hop very well when I was young, I should be able to do so now.”

To give more weight to this observation, she took two little jumps with a grace and sprightliness worthy of Mademoiselle Taglioni.

Octave arose.

“I have had the pleasure of seeing you waltz,” said he; “but I admit that I shall be pleased to witness a new dance, and one executed for me alone.”

As he said these words, he pretended to conceal the innocent object of this dispute in his blouse.  The pretty dancer saw by this that a compromise would be necessary.  Recourse to concessions is often as fatal to women as to kings; but what can one do when every other exit is closed?  Obliged by absolute necessity to accept the conditions imposed upon her, Clemence wished at least to cover this defeat with sufficient dignity, and escape from an awkward position with the honors of war.