"D'Harville has grown very sullen and morose; he is seldom seen in the world," said M. de Saint-Remy, with something like impatience, for the conversation was most irksome to him, both because of its untimeliness and that the notary seemed amused at it; but Madame d'Harville's stepmother, enchanted at thus meeting with a dandy of the first water, was not the woman to allow her prey to escape her so easily. "And my dear stepdaughter," she continued,--"she, I hope, is not as morose as her husband?" "Madame d'Harville is all the fashion, and has the world at her feet, as a lovely woman should have. But I take up your time, and--" "Not at all, I assure you. It is quite agreeable to me to meet the 'observed of all observers,'--the monarch of fashion,--for, in ten minutes, I shall be as _au fait_ of Paris as if I had never left it. And your dear M. de Lucenay, who was also present at M. d'Harville's marriage?" "A still greater oddity. He has been travelling in the East, and returned in time to receive a sword-wound yesterday,--nothing serious, though." "Poor dear duke! And his wife, always lovely and fascinating?" "Madame, I have the honour to be one of her profoundest admirers, and my testimony would, therefore, be received with suspicion. I beg, on your return to Aubiers, you will not forget my regards to M. d'Orbigny." "He will, I am sure, be most sensible of your kindness; he often talks of you, and says you remind him of the Duke de Lauzun." "His comparison is a eulogy in itself, but, unfortunately, infinitely more flattering than true. Adieu, madame, for I fear I must not ask to be allowed to pay my respects to you before your departure." "I should lament to give you the trouble of calling on me, for I have pitched my tent for a few days in a furnished hotel; but if, in the summer or autumn, you should be passing our way, _en route_ to some of those fashionable chateaus where the leaders of _ton_ dispute the pleasure of receiving you, pray give us a few days of your society, if it be only by way of contrast, and to rest yourself with us poor rustic folk from the whirl of your high life of fashion and distinction; for where you are it is always delightful to be." "Madame!" "I need not say how delighted M. d'Orbigny and myself would be to receive you; but adieu, sir, I fear the kind attorney (she pointed to Ferrand) will grow impatient at our gossip." "Quite the reverse, madame, quite the reverse," said Ferrand, with an emphasis that redoubled the repressed rage of M. de Saint-Remy. [Illustration: _He will scold you awfully._ Original Etching by Adrian Marcel.]