After exchanging several words with her, I understood how, thanks to so much intelligence and resolution, candor and cleverness, she managed to live on good terms with a pretty bad husband and a very stupid mother-in-law. Scarcely had we begun breakfast, when the dowager, scrutinizing me closely, declared that I looked ill and pale, although I had so far forgotten my adventure as to eat with a good appetite, and to be pleasantly affected by the amiable attention of my beautiful hostess. Then recollecting Zéphyrine’s instructions, I hastened to say that I had slept well and had had very pleasant dreams. “Ah! I was sure of it,” cried the old lady evidently enchanted. “One always sleeps well in that room. Tell us your dreams, Monsieur Nivières.” “They were very confused; still I think I can remember a lady.” “Only one?” “Perhaps two!” “Perhaps three also?” said Madame d’Ionis, smiling. “Precisely, madame, you remind me that they were three!” “Pretty?” said the triumphant dowager. “Rather pretty, but somewhat faded.” “Really?” said Madame d’Ionis, who seemed to communicate through her eyes with Zéphyrine (who was seated at the lower end of the table), in order to answer me. “And what did they say to you?” “Incomprehensible things. But if it interests madame, the dowager Countess, I will do my utmost to remember.” “Ah! my dear child,” said the dowager, “it interests me more than I can say. I will explain by and by. Begin by telling us.” “But it will be very difficult for me to tell. Can any one recount a dream?” “Perhaps if your memory were assisted,” said Madame d’Ionis with great coolness, determined to encourage her mother-in-law’s hobby; “did they say nothing to you about the future prosperity of this house?” “It seems to me they did, in fact.” “Ah! you see, Zéphyrine,” cried the dowager; “you who believe in nothing and I wager that they spoke of the law suit: come, Monsieur Nivières, tell us all about it.” A glance from Madame d’Ionis warned me not to answer. I declared that not a word of the law suit had I heard in my dreams. The dowager seemed greatly disappointed, but consoled herself by saying: “It will come! It will come!” This, “it will come,” was very disagreeable to me, although it was said with the utmost benevolence. I did not in the least care to pass another bad night, but I readily resigned myself to my fate when Madame d’Ionis said to me in an undertone, while the dowager was quarreling with Zéphyrine about her lack of faith. “It is very amiable of you to lend yourself to this fancy of the day in our house. I trust indeed that you will have only pleasant dreams while with us; and you are not absolutely compelled to see these three young ladies every night. It is sufficient that you should have spoken of them to-day to my excellent mother-in-law without laughing. It gives her great pleasure and does not compromise your courage. All of our friends have decided to see them in order to have some peace.”