I was intensely conscious of her beauty as I sat by her side in the
swiftly rolling victoria. And I was conscious of other qualities in
her too--of her homeliness, her good-fellowship, her trustfulness. The
fact that she was one of the most famous personalities in Europe did
not, after our talk, in the least disturb my pleasing dreams of a
possible future. It was, nevertheless, specially forced upon me, for
as we drove along the Rue de Rivoli, past the interminable façades of
the Louvre, and the big shops, and so into the meaner quarter of the
markets--the Opéra Comique was then situated in its temporary home in
the Place du Châtelet--numberless wayfarers showed by their demeanor
of curiosity that Rosetta Rosa was known to them. They were much more
polite than English people would have been, but they did not hide
their interest in us.
The jewels had been locked away in a safe, except one gorgeous emerald
brooch which she was wearing at her neck.
"It appears," I said, "that in Paris one must not even attend
rehearsals without jewels."
She laughed.
"You think I have a passion for jewels, and you despise me for it."
"By no means. Nobody has a better right to wear precious stones than
yourself."
"Can you guess why I wear them?"
"Not because they make you look prettier, for that's impossible."
"Will you please remember that I like you because you are not in the
habit of making speeches."
"I beg pardon. I won't offend again. Well, then, I will confess that I
don't know why you wear jewels. There must be a Puritan strain in my
character, for I cannot enter into the desire for jewels. I say this
merely because you have practically invited me to be brutal."
Now that I recall that conversation I realize how gentle she was
towards my crude and callous notions concerning personal adornment.
"Yet you went to England in order to fetch my jewels."
"No, I went to England in order to be of use to a lady. But tell
me--why do you wear jewels off the stage?"
"Simply because, having them, I have a sort of feeling that they ought
to be used. It seems a waste to keep them hidden in a strong box, and
I never could tolerate waste. Really, I scarcely care more for jewels,
as jewels, than you do yourself."
"Still, for a person who doesn't care for them, you seem to have a
fair quantity of them."
"Ah! But many were given to me--and the rest I bought when I was
young, or soon afterwards. Besides, they are part of my stock in
trade."
"When you were young!" I repeated, smiling. "How long is that since?"
"Ages."
I coughed.