"It may be that that's not so easy as you seem to think, madame. I, too, had a very neat fortune once; I ran through it; which, to my mind, is much better than gambling it away; it leaves sweeter-smelling memories; but I have never been able to get rich again." "Monsieur Monleard finds fault with me; he says now that I care for nothing but pleasure; but, when he sought my hand, monsieur, why did he fascinate me by the prospect of a life of luxury and fetes, of splendid equipages and magnificent gowns? in short, of all the things which will always make a girl's heart beat fast? He married me from caprice, and when that caprice was gratified he was sorry he had married. Oh! I saw that more than once, and that is why, monsieur, I bear up so bravely under the news you have brought me." "You had no need to tell me all this, madame; but I do not see----" "I beg your pardon! this is what I ask you to do. In my present position, you can easily understand that I must see my father and sister; but I do not wish to go to them, or to be compelled to tell them of this fatal event." "I understand, madame: you wish me to undertake to tell them of what has happened?" "Oh! monsieur, if it would not be too great an abuse of your good-nature." "I will go to your father's house, madame. Mon Dieu! while I am in the way of doing errands, it won't cost me any more." "Ah! monsieur, how kind you are! how grateful I am to you!" "I have always been at the service of the ladies. Monsieur Gerbault's address, if you please?" "Ah! you know my father's name?" "Yes, madame. Indeed, there are many things that I know; but I won't tell you them at this moment." "Here is my father's address." "Very good; I will go there at once, madame. If I can be of any further use to you, command me; Arthur Cherami, Hotel du Bel-Air, Rue de l'Orillon, Belleville--but prepay your letters. I present my respects, madame." "I am a sort of dead man's messenger just now," said Cherami to himself, as he went away; "but, after all, I couldn't refuse that young woman; she's so pretty, and she's no fool; far from it! Ah! I can understand how she bewitched Gustave. Never mind; for my part, I prefer a weak woman to a strong one." Monsieur Gerbault was at home, and with his daughter, when Cherami made his appearance. Fanny's father, who had never seen his visitor, offered him a chair, and waited for him to explain the object of his visit. But Adolphine, as soon as he entered the room, recognized Cherami as the person who had dined with Gustave on the day of her sister's wedding; and Cherami, on his side, bestowed a graceful salutation upon the young lady, as upon a person whom he had met before. "Do you know my daughter Adolphine, monsieur?" inquired Monsieur Gerbault, in surprise. "Yes, monsieur; I had the pleasure of seeing mademoiselle on the day of your other daughter's wedding. I dined at Deffieux's that day, with someone who is not a stranger to you."