"No, I don't; he intended to leave Paris again."
"That's strange. Formerly, he always told you where he was going; and now that I ask you, you don't know anything about him."
"He said something about Germany, that's all I know."
"Well, people don't travel forever; he'll return some time, poor Gustave! and we shall meet again. Ah! he had changed tremendously for the better when he came back from Spain; he had acquired ease of manner and refinement, hadn't he?"
"Oh! how angry you make me!--It seems to me, however, that it's more interesting to talk about the living than the dead."
"Everybody isn't consoled as quickly as you."
"No, sister; I meant simply that anyone was very fortunate to have such a temperament as yours."
"My dear Adolphine, I have been a widow two months now, and I know a little something of the world. When you have had as much experience as I have, you will realize that you should be able to find consolation for anything."
"I don't think I shall ever be as philosophical as you."
Whenever the two sisters met, Fanny did not fail to lead the conversation to the subject of Gustave. That subject, although intensely interesting to Adolphine, was very painful to her when Fanny introduced it; but, being accustomed by long practice to conceal the secrets of her heart, to confine therein a sentiment which she dared not avow to anyone, Fanny's younger sister contrived to listen with apparent indifference to the project which Auguste's widow already had in contemplation.
One day, while talking with Adolphine, Fanny suddenly asked:
"By the way, do you know who that man was whom Monsieur Monléard employed to inform me of his death? I never saw him at the house, and yet Auguste must have been intimately acquainted with him to intrust him with such a commission."
"Yes, that's the name he gave me when he left his address and offered me his services. He has a most original aspect, that individual. But who is Monsieur Cherami, anyway? When I asked him to go to tell you, he seemed to know father's name."
"Indeed! he probably learned it from Gustave."
"Does the man know Gustave too? For heaven's sake, does he know everybody? Was it through Gustave that he knew my husband, also?"
"For what? Do go on, Adolphine; I don't know what's the matter with you nowadays, but I have to tear the words out of your mouth."