The marriage of Gustave and Adolphine had been decided for four days; and as they were in great haste to be united and to make sure at last of a happiness which had constantly eluded the grasp of one, and which the other had never hoped to attain, they were hurrying forward the indispensable preliminaries to the celebration of their union. Monsieur Grandcourt did not make a wry face when his nephew told him of the new choice he had made; on the contrary, he congratulated him. "That one is all right," he said; "she's a charming girl, with all the good qualities which her sister lacks; therefore, she has a great many." More than once, while her young mistress was trying on the gowns and jewels which were brought to her, Madeleine cried: "Oh! mamzelle, how lovely you will look as a bride! But there's your sister! When she knows who you're going to marry, won't she make a row?" "Hush, Madeleine, don't talk about my sister! I have a sort of feeling that she is going to interfere with my happiness again." "Nonsense! There's no danger of that, mamzelle; I'll answer for Monsieur Gustave!" They were conversing one morning in this same strain, when someone rang the doorbell violently. "Mon Dieu! if it were she!" exclaimed Adolphine. "Your sister? Well, if it is, she won't eat us." It proved to be Fanny, who entered her sister's room with an insolent air, crying: "What does this mean? Who ever heard of such a thing? Monsieur Gustave in Paris a whole week, I hear, and no one lets me know! And that tall scamp of a Cherami assured me that he was going to Russia! Ah! I'll fix him when I see him! Haven't you seen Gustave? Hasn't he been here?" "Why, yes," Adolphine replied, trying to conceal her emotion, "he has been here. He comes every day." "And you couldn't send me word?" "I have been to your house several times. You are always out." "You might have written me a line." "But I could not guess that you were so anxious to see Gustave, after your treatment of him." "Oh! my dear girl, I beg you not to bore me by going all over that! What has passed is a dream; but what has not been done may still be done." "I don't understand you." "I understand myself, and that's enough. How is Gustave now? still sad and depressed?" "Oh! not at all. He is cheerful and light-hearted; he's not the same man. You wouldn't recognize him." "Indeed! he's cheerful, is he?" "And then, he has a beautiful scar across his face; it gives him a martial air, it's very becoming to him." "Perhaps that is what makes his spirits so good. So he has been fighting duels, has he?" "Yes, with an Irish officer." "Everybody seems to be duelling, nowadays! He must have wanted to follow his friend Cherami's example. What about his business?" "His uncle has just made him his partner. Gustave will have at least forty thousand francs a year for his share."