The next day when they met at breakfast, Edouard spoke of Dufresne and of the pleasure it had afforded him to make his acquaintance. He was a charming man, full of intelligence and talent, who could not fail to succeed and make a handsome fortune. “But, my dear,” said Adeline, “it seems to me that you can hardly know that gentleman as yet.” “I myself,” said Madame Germeuil, “think Monsieur Dufresne a most agreeable man; he is pleasant in company, and then, too, Madame Dolban has known him a long time, no doubt. But after all, my dear Edouard, you never spoke to him until within a week, for we cannot count the day of your wedding; you were too busy to pay any attention to him then.” “Oh, yes,” said Adeline, with a sigh, “that day he thought of nothing but me.” “Really, mesdames, you talk rather strangely; does it require so very long, pray, to know a person and to form a judgment upon him? For my own part, two days are enough for me; besides, what interest could Dufresne have in putting on a false face with us? He has no need of our services, and you know that in the world we are constantly guided by our own interests; but aside from that, why should he put himself out? Dufresne has money, he is in business.” “What business?” “Oh! business on the Bourse, commerce, speculation; in short, very extensive business, according to what he tells me.” “Has he an office, or any place? Is he a solicitor--a business agent?” “No! no! But a man need not have any of those things now, to make his way. Moreover, mesdames, allow me to tell you that you know nothing about it.” “Upon my word, my dear, you are very amiable! Why do you think that we are not so well able as men to decide what may be useful to us?” “Because you are not brought up to do it.” “My dear,” said Madame Germeuil, “education supplies neither intellect nor judgment. Believe me, a woman may give very good advice, and men are almost always wrong to despise it. The only advice that I can give you myself is not to form too rashly an intimacy with a man whom you have known only a week. Friendship should not be given so readily.” “But Edouard is naturally so kind, so easy-going----” “Oh! I know how to value people. I promise you that Dufresne’s friendship will be very valuable to me.” “How so?” “Parbleu! I mean to do as he does; and to increase our fortune, I too will go into business. I feel, moreover, that a man cannot live without having something to do. When we are in Paris, I can’t walk about from morning till night; I shall neither go hunting nor fishing.” “That is just what I told you when you insisted on leaving your place,” said Mamma Germeuil; “but then you didn’t listen to me.” “Oh! my dear mamma, if I had remained twenty years nailed to an office stool, what would that have led me to? To be a deputy chief perhaps, a year or two before being retired on a pension. A noble prospect! Instead of that, I may become very wealthy some day.”