The one exception was Estelle the dancer, with whom Emile allowed her a
slight acquaintance. He neither approved of women in general nor of
their friendships. Estelle was the _bonne amie_ of the sardonic
Manager, who occasionally beat her, after which ceremony it was her
custom to drink _absinthe_. Sometimes, for this reason, she was unable
to appear on the stage. She would come into Arithelli's dressing room
and weep, and smoke innumerable cigarettes, and when things had been
going well, they made a _partie carree_ at the Cafe Colomb.
By way of advertising herself and her performance Arithelli was given a
high, smartly painted carriage in which she drove in the fashionable
promenade of Barcelona, the Paseo de Gracia, with three of the
cream-coloured horses lightly harnessed and jingling with bells.
On these occasions Emile played the part of lady's maid and escort. He
selected her dress, fastened it, scolded her for putting her hat on
crooked, and laced up her preposterously high boots.
Then he adjusted the battered sombrero, lit a cigarette and drove
beside her, scowling as usual.
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