Page 397 - swanns-way

his career. And so she did not allow the word ‘salad,’ which
Mme. Verdurin had just uttered, to pass unchallenged.
‘It’s not a Japanese salad, is it?’ she whispered, turning
towards Odette.
And then, in her joy and confusion at the combination
of neatness and daring which there had been in making so
discreet and yet so unmistakable an allusion to the new and
brilliantly successful play by Dumas, she broke down in a
charming, girlish laugh, not very loud, but so irresistible
that it was some time before she could control it.
‘Who is that lady? She seems devilish clever,’ said
Forcheville.
‘No, it is not. But we will have one for you if you will all
come to dinner on Friday.’
‘You will think me dreadfully provincial, sir,’ said Mme.
Cottard to Swann, ‘but, do you know, I haven’t been yet
to this famous Francillon that everybody’s talking about.
The Doctor has been (I remember now, he told me what a
very great pleasure it had been to him to spend the evening
with you there) and I must confess, I don’t see much sense
in spending money on seats for him to take me, when he’s
seen the play already. Of course an evening at the Théâtre-
Français is never wasted, really; the acting’s so good there
always; but we have some very nice friends,’ (Mme. Cot-
tard would hardly ever utter a proper name, but restricted
herself to ‘some friends of ours’ or ‘one of my friends,’ as be-
ing more ‘distinguished,’ speaking in an affected tone and
with all the importance of a person who need give names
only when she chooses) ‘who often have a box, and are kind

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