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 Osmond, 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 moment, "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 Monte!" 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.
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