Fanny was in her boudoir, trying on some morning caps, and leaving her mirror from time to time to go to look at the last bulletin from the Bourse, which was on her toilet table, when her maid appeared and told her that a gentleman desired to speak to her.
"A gentleman! What gentleman? Do you know him? Did he give his name?"
"No, madame; I have never seen him here."
"Are you sure that he wants to see me, not Monsieur Monléard?"
"It is certainly you, madame; and he says that it's on very important business."
"Is the man respectable? Does he look like a gentleman?"
"Then show him into the salon; I will go down."
She hastily finished her toilet, saying to herself:
"Monsieur Vauflers has probably sent some friend of his to tell me what he has done on the Bourse. It's after four o'clock; yes, it must be that."
Cherami, being ushered into the salon, scrutinized the furniture, muttering:
"It's not bad, it's very _chic!_ I used to have such quarters myself. It's more comfortable than the Widow Louchard's lodgings. But one has his ups and downs all the same, even in such surroundings."
Fanny appeared at last; she bowed to her visitor, who seemed to her to have "a funny look"; for such is the fashionable method of describing what one does not know how to describe; then she pointed to a chair, and said:
"You wish to speak to me, monsieur? about some business at the Bourse, I presume?"
Cherami was embarrassed at the sight of the young woman. He realized that his mission was more difficult to execute than he had thought; however, he sat down, stammering:
"Madame--it is--it is on the subject----"
"No, not to-day's, madame; but it was the Bourse which caused--which brought about the event--the calamity----"
"Be kind enough, monsieur, to explain yourself more clearly, for I do not understand you at all."
Cherami bit his lips, seeking the best method of preparing the young woman for what he had to tell her; and after reflecting for a considerable time, he cried:
"Madame, I came to tell you that your husband is dead!"
Fanny started from her seat, gazed at the man before her, and rejoined, with a shrug of her shoulders:
"If this is a joke, monsieur, allow me to inform you that it is in execrable taste."