Swann now wished to go home, but, just as he was making his escape,
General de Froberville caught him and asked for an introduction to Mme.
de Cambremer, and he was obliged to go back into the room to look for her.
"I say, Swann, I'd rather be married to that little woman than killed by
savages, what do you say?"
The words 'killed by savages' pierced Swann's aching heart; and at once he
felt the need of continuing the conversation. "Ah!" he began, "some fine
lives have been lost in that way... There was, you remember, that explorer
whose remains Dumont d'Urville brought back, La Perouse..." (and he was at
once happy again, as though he had named Odette). "He was a fine
character, and interests me very much, does La Perouse," he ended sadly.
"Oh, yes, of course, La Perouse," said the General. "It's quite a
well-known name. There's a street called that."
"Do you know anyone in the Rue La Perouse?" asked Swann excitedly.
"Only Mme. de Chanlivault, the sister of that good fellow Chaussepierre.
She gave a most amusing theatre-party the other evening. That's a house
that will be really smart some day, you'll see!"
"Oh, so she lives in the Rue La Perouse.
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