"Thanks a thousand times!" "May the thought of me be some company to you, as the thought of you will be a sweet consolation to me!--Mon Dieu! how hideous he is in bed!" said the little woman to herself as she left the room. LVII CHERAMI ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR HIS MISTAKES Three weeks passed. The count was beginning to sit up and to walk about his room; but he was still very weak, and the blood that he had lost seemed to have carried away all that he had still retained of youthfulness, activity, and amiability. Fanny had been to see him almost every day, although she was sadly bored all the time that she was with the wounded man; she was very careful, however, to conceal her ennui and to dissemble her yawns; on the contrary, she feigned to be more affectionate than ever; but his convalescence seemed to her interminable, especially because she did not fail to notice the change that had taken place in the humor of her future spouse, who seemed to have aged ten years in a fortnight. Soon the count was able to drive out; whereupon Fanny murmured, lowering her eyes: "I think that we might now fix the day which is to unite us forever." But Monsieur de la Beriniere shook his head. "I am not strong enough yet," he replied. And the young widow said to herself: "I am very much afraid that he never will be strong enough again!" Things were at this point, when Madame Monleard's maid informed her mistress one morning that Monsieur Cherami requested the honor of an interview with her. "Monsieur Cherami!" cried Fanny. "What! that man dares show himself at my house! my evil genius! But, no matter! I am curious to know what he can have to say to me.--Show the gentleman in." Cherami, who had not omitted to make an elaborate toilet, came forward with a smiling face, saying: "Madame Monleard did not expect a call from me?" "No, monsieur, most assuredly not. After what has taken place between you and Monsieur de la Beriniere, I did not expect to see you here; but, since you are here, I trust that you will be good enough to tell me why you challenged a man you did not know, and who had not injured you?" "Mon Dieu! madame, surely you can guess. I wished to avenge poor Gustave, whom you have played with like a macaroon."