Page 518 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

Osmond, however, took him in; he had never in his life
felt himself so efficiently looked at. ‘Madame Merle has told
him, and he doesn’t like it,’ he privately reasoned. He had
hoped Madame Merle would be there, but she was not in
sight; perhaps she was in one of the other rooms or would
come later. He had never especially delighted in Gilbert Os-
mond, having a fancy he gave himself airs. But Rosier was
not quickly resentful, and where politeness was concerned
had ever a strong need of being quite in the right. He looked
round him and smiled, all without help, and then in a mo-
ment, ‘I saw a jolly good piece of Capo di Monte to-day,’ he
said.
Osmond answered nothing at first; but presently, while
he warmed his boot-sole, ‘I don’t care a fig for Capo di Mon-
te!’ he returned.
‘I hope you’re not losing your interest?’
‘In old pots and plates? Yes, I’m losing my interest.’
Rosier for an instant forgot the delicacy of his position.
‘You’re not thinking of parting with a-a piece or two?’
‘No, I’m not thinking of parting with anything at all, Mr.
Rosier,’ said Osmond, with his eyes still on the eyes of his
visitor.
‘Ah, you want to keep, but not to add,’ Rosier remarked
brightly.
‘Exactly. I’ve nothing I wish to match.’
Poor Rosier was aware he had blushed; he was distressed
at his want of assurance. ‘Ah, well, I have!’ was all he could
murmur; and he knew his murmur was partly lost as he
turned away. He took his course to the adjoining room and

518 The Portrait of a Lady