"My dear girl, I hoped, by inviting a friend or two to dinner, to brighten you up, to give you a little diversion; for you have looked as if you weren't feeling well for some time. Tell me, are you sick?" "Why, no, dear father; I am not sick, I am not in pain. I assure you that I am in my ordinary condition." "Good! so much the better! Still, it seems to me that you're a little changed." "Oh! you know one has days--when the autumn comes.--And you didn't invite Fanny and her husband, while you were in the mood?" "Yes, I did. I was going to their house when I met Auguste. But they can't come; they are going to a grand dinner. Nothing but festivities, gorgeous parties!" "All the better! it amuses Fanny; she's so fond of all that sort of thing!" "True, true! Fanny is leading the life she used to dream of; she ought to be happy. But it seems to me that her husband has been in rather a gloomy mood lately; he always has such a startled, preoccupied manner; and when you speak to him, he hardly listens to you." "I think that you're mistaken, father; Fanny's husband isn't of an expansive nature; his manner is cold, a little haughty, perhaps." "Yes, I know it; but he likes to cut a brilliant figure, to dazzle other people by his magnificence; and that sometimes carries a man too far." "What do you mean by that?" "I have been told that he is speculating heavily on the Bourse." "If he has the means to do it, it's all right; he must know what he's about." "Batonnin was telling me just now that Monleard must have lost a great deal of money by the failure--or the flight, I don't quite know which it was--of one Morissel." "Ah! Monsieur Batonnin told you that? I notice that disagreeable news is generally brought by smiling faces and honeyed words." "I prefer to believe that my son-in-law's fortune has not sustained such a serious loss." "After all, father, in business a man can't always make money, can he?" "Hoity-toity! here you are talking almost as well as your sister.--By the way, I met Monsieur Grandcourt too." "Monsieur Grandcourt?" "Well, well! what's the matter now? You're as pale as a ghost. Don't you feel well?" "Yes, father. I am all right, I promise you. What did Monsieur Grandcourt have to say?" "Oh! he doesn't speculate! He's a prudent, intelligent man. He does an excellent business. His house is prosperous and is extending its connections every day." "And his nephew--that poor Monsieur Gustave--did he tell you anything about him?" "He is still in Spain." "But when is he coming back? If he should come to see us--would that annoy you?"