Madeleine, who had recognized Gustave, did not deem it necessary to announce him, but allowed him to enter her mistress's apartment, where he could hear her playing the piano. He went forward softly and stood behind Adolphine, and several moments passed before she happened to glance at the mirror over the piano and saw him standing there. A cry escaped her; she whispered Gustave's name, then a ghastly pallor spread over her face, and she looked down at the floor. "Mon Dieu! my dear Adolphine! what's the matter?" cried the young man, in dismay; "shall I call somebody?" But Adolphine motioned to him not to go, and shook hands with him, saying in an uncertain voice: "It's nothing--the surprise--the excitement; I was so unprepared to see you! But it's all gone.--So you are at home again, Monsieur Gustave?" "Yes, my good little sister. So you didn't expect me, eh? You had forgotten all about me?" "Oh! I don't say that; on the contrary, it seemed to me that you were staying away a long while this time." "I have been away nearly seven months; and during that time, I understand that--many things have happened here." "Ah! you know?" "Yes, I know that your sister is a widow." "Who has told you that, so soon?" "Cherami; you know, the man who was with me the day of----" "Oh, yes! I know him; it was he, too, who came to tell us the fatal news of poor Auguste's death; for, I don't know how it happens, but your Monsieur Cherami succeeds in having his finger in everything; everybody takes him for a confidant.--When did you return?" "Only last evening." "It was very nice of you to think of coming here. Father is out, but he will be at home soon." "Good! for I shall be very glad to talk with him. I trust that he won't think it improper for me to come here now, as he did before?" Adolphine could not restrain a nervous gesture as she replied: "Ah! so you want to come to see us again? Yes--I understand--you are no longer afraid to meet Fanny." "Do you think that I ought to avoid her presence still? tell me, dear Adolphine!" "I? Oh! I don't think anything about it. Why should you suppose that I think that? I can't read your heart, you see, and I have no idea whether it still entertains the same sentiments as before." "Ah! I can safely tell you, who have always treated me like a brother; indeed, why should I make a mystery of it, anyway? Yes, I love Fanny as dearly as ever, her image has not ceased for a single day to be present in my thoughts. My love, although hopeless, has never changed. Judge, then, whether I can cease to love her, now that I am once more at liberty to anticipate happiness in the future!" Adolphine passed her hand across her brow and made an effort to retain her self-possession, as she replied: "Ah! it's a fine thing to love like that, with a constancy which time and absence have failed to shake! It's a fine thing; and a woman could not love you too well to recompense a passion as true and pure as yours!"