"Fanny, you judge Gustave too harshly; do you impute it to him as a crime, that he didn't insult your husband? Oh! he probably would have done it, if his uncle hadn't dragged him away, almost by force, from that restaurant, where he absolutely insisted on speaking to you." "How do you know all that?" "Because it was I who sent word to Monsieur Grandcourt that his nephew was at the restaurant where the wedding was being celebrated." "Oh! yes, so you told me. That fellow wanted to make a scene--and by what right? Was I obliged to marry him, I should like to know?" "You allowed him to believe that you loved him." "Nonsense! because a woman listens to the soft things these men say to her, because she smiles when they sigh, they instantly assume that she adores them. A fine position he offered me, didn't he? Three thousand francs a year--magnificent!" "If you had really loved him, you wouldn't have cared about his wealth." "Oh! I'm not romantic like you. With Auguste, I have a coupe at my orders, and I find it very pleasant. I tell you again, your Monsieur Gustave is an idiot!" "Ah! Fanny, it's wicked for you to talk like that; to treat him so, just because he loved you sincerely." "Much I care about his love! His behavior was none the less blamable. What excuse had he for sending that tall ruffian to insult me when I left the ball--which, of course, compelled Auguste to fight with the fellow?" "I would take my oath that Monsieur Gustave never told that person, with whom he had dined, to say a single insulting word to you. Besides, Monsieur Grandcourt took his nephew away long before you left the ball. That man, who presumed to address an offensive remark to you, was drunk; he had already had trouble with some of the gentlemen, for he insisted on offering his arm to the ladies when they arrived for the ball." "Then, my dear girl, you will agree that your Monsieur Gustave has some very low acquaintances?" Adolphine made no reply, but sadly lowered her eyes. A moment later, her sister continued: "What surprises me is that I haven't once seen Monsieur Gustave, or met him anywhere, since my wedding. For a man so dead in love, not to try to see me at my window, at least once---- You see that he is consoled, so soon." "He is not in Paris. His uncle forced him to start for Spain the very next day." "Ah! he's in Spain? that makes a difference! But you seem to know all about him. From whom, pray?" "Father met Monsieur Grandcourt not long ago, and he told him that his nephew was in Spain." "Ah! someone has just rung." "It's your husband, no doubt." "If it's he, we shall see him in a moment." It was not the master of the house who entered the salon, but Monsieur Gerbault, who, like an affectionate father, began by kissing his daughters. "Good-evening, father," said Fanny. "Why didn't you come to dinner, with Adolphine? My husband didn't like it."