"Oh, well! he's a curiosity this friend of yours. Why does he not go about in a show? He would get some money."
"Sixteen thousand a year. Don't you consider that a fair amount?"
"Yes," he answered, without any sign of enthusiasm, "yes, of course, that's very fair--for anyone who has not got it dishonestly." And then, after a pause, he asked: "What was this great trouble that he had?"
"Oh, I'll tell you about it when Bijou is not here."
The young girl, however, could scarcely have heard what they were saying. She was joking with Pierrot, who had just come into the room. She wanted to part his hair again, and Pierrot, a tall youth of seventeen, strong-looking, but overgrown, with long feet and hands, and a forehead covered with extraordinary bumps, was trying to make himself short, so that the young girl might reach up to his bushy, colourless hair. He was bending his head, and looking straight before him, with a far-away expression in his eyes, evidently enjoying having his hair stroked by the skilful little hands.
Madame de Bracieux, seeing that Bijou was at a safe distance, ventured in a low voice to tell her nephew the details about the love-affair, which had in a way changed the whole life of her friend, M. de Clagny.
Suddenly Denyse came across to the marchioness.
"Grandmamma--I forgot--the Dubuissons cannot come to dinner on Thursday, but M. Dubuisson will bring Jeanne on Friday, and leave her with us for a week."
"Well, then, we shall only be eighteen to dinner."
"No, we shall be twenty all the same; because I saw the Tourvilles, and I gave them an invitation from you; I thought that--"
"Oh!" exclaimed Bertrade, "the Tourvilles and the Juzencourts at the same time! We shall be sure, then, of hearing their stories of William the Conqueror and Charles the Bold!"
"Oh, well!" exclaimed Bijou, laughing, "it will be much better like that, we shall have it altogether, once for all, at any rate."
Just as dinner was announced, M. de Rueille entered the room. He had an absent-minded look, and his eyes shone strangely. He took his seat silently at table, and did not talk during the meal.
BIJOU, assisted by Pierrot, was handing the coffee round, when suddenly she darted off in pursuit of Paul de Rueille, who had just come out of the drawing-room, and was descending the steps which led on to the terrace.