“Madame de Bois Arden?” “The new fashions are sufficient for her giddy head.” “M. Gandelu?” “He has his son’s affairs to look after and there is no one else of any consequence.” “And how about young Gandelu?” “Oh! he has yielded to Tantaine’s winning power, and has made it up with Rose, and the turtle doves have taken wing for Florence.” But the doctor was still dissatisfied. “I am uneasy about the Mussidans,” said he. “And pray why? De Croisenois has been very well received. I don’t say that Mademoiselle Sabine has exactly jumped into his arms, but she thanks him every evening for the flowers he sends in the morning, and you can’t expect more than that.” “I wish the Count had not put off the marriage. Why did he do so?” “It annoys me, too; but we can’t have everything; set your mind at rest.” By this time the banker had contrived to reassure the doctor. “Besides,” he added, “everything is going on well, even our Tafila mines. I have taxed our people, according to their means, from one to twenty thousand francs, and we are certain of a million.” The doctor rubbed his hands, and a delicious prospect of enjoyments stretched out before him. “I have seen Catenac,” continued Martin Rigal. “He has returned from Vendome, and the Duke de Champdoce is wild with hope and expectation, and is on the path which he thinks will take him to his son.” “And how about Perpignan?” Mascarin laughed. “Perpignan is just as much a dupe as the Duke is; he thinks absolutely that he has discovered all the clues that I myself placed on his road. Before, however, they have quite concluded their investigations, Paul will be my daughter’s husband and Flavia the future Duchess of Champdoce, with an income that a monarch might envy.” He paused, for there was a light tap on the door, and Flavia entered. She bowed to the doctor, and, with the graceful movement of a bird, perched herself upon her father’s knee, and, throwing her arms round his neck, kissed him again and again. “This is a very nice little preface,” said the banker with a forced smile. “The favor is granted in advance, for, of course, this means that you have come to ask one.” The girl shook her head, and returned in the tone of one addressing a naughty child,-- “Oh, you bad papa! Am I in the habit of selling my kisses? I am sure that I have only to ask and to have.” “Of course not, only----” “I came to tell you that dinner was ready, and that Paul and I are both very hungry; and I only kissed you because I loved you; and if I had to choose a father again, out of the whole it would be you.” He smiled fondly. “But for the last six weeks,” said he, “you have not loved me so well.” “No,” returned she with charming simplicity, “not for so long--nearly for fifteen days perhaps.” “And yet it is more than a month since the good doctor brought a certain young man to dinner.” Flavia uttered a frank, girlish laugh. “I love you dearly,” said she, “but especially for one thing.”