“But neither does she know you.”

“I never said she did, but we are not obliged to behave in exactly the same way about everything. I shall find other ways of being civil to Gilberte than Mme. Swann has with you.”

But I was unconvinced, and preferred not to invite Gilberte.

Leaving my parents, I went upstairs to change my clothes and on emptying my pockets came suddenly upon the envelope which the Swanns’ butler had handed me before showing me into the drawing-room. I was now alone. I opened it; inside was a card on which I was told the name of the lady whom I ought to have “taken in” to luncheon.