"It seems that she is the person who has hired the little house near by." "And she thinks that, being a neighbor, she owes me a visit. Well, I will receive her, if it must be; but I propose to show her in short order that I don't choose to be intimate with my neighbors. Admit this lady who is in such a hurry to see me!" The maid retired. I turned toward the door, curious to see the neighbor, who was said to be pretty; Frédérique continued to sit nonchalantly on the couch. A lady appeared; I made a gesture of surprise, and Madame Dauberny uttered a cry; we recognized Madame Sordeville. Armantine seemed amazed to find me there; but she recovered herself at once and ran toward Frédérique, saying: "It is I! You didn't expect to see me, did you? You had no idea that I had become your neighbor?" "Why, no, surely not; I had not the slightest suspicion of it!" replied Frédérique, in a tone that was not precisely affectionate; "but who told you--how did you know that I lived in this house, where, by the way, I have been only a short time?" "Mon Dieu! servants, you know, find out instantly who one's neighbors are, and, in the country especially, that is the first thing one thinks about." "I promise you that I think very little about it." "My maid said to me this morning: 'Madame, this fine house next to us is let to Madame Dauberny.'--I needn't tell you that, when I heard your name, I asked for other particulars; I soon concluded that it must be you, so I lost no time in coming to see you and embrace you. Did I do wrong?" "No, indeed! certainly not!" The ladies embraced. I was not fully persuaded that their kisses were sincere. Frédérique was much disturbed; she changed color every second. Madame Sordeville was still pretty and as great a coquette as ever; I saw that instantly. She soon turned to me and said: "When I came to see my friend, I did not expect, I must say, to find Monsieur Rochebrune here. That is an additional pleasure!" I contented myself with bowing coldly. Frédérique, who was watching me, said: "Yes, Monsieur Rochebrune consented to pass some time with me here. I thought at first that he would not make a long visit, but he said to me lately that he did not regret Paris at all." "That is the truth, madame; you have made me love the country." Armantine bit her lips, and continued: "You receive a great deal of company here, no doubt? It's so near Paris!" "Why, no; on the contrary, I receive no one. Except for two gentlemen who live near,--and them we see only once or twice a week,--we are always alone, Charles and I." Armantine frowned slightly with vexation, but instantly tried to change the frown into a smile. It was the first time that she had heard Frédérique call me Charles, and that evidence of familiarity did not seem to cause her the keenest pleasure. "So you have left your place of retirement at Passy?" said Madame Dauberny, after a pause.