I followed Monsieur Roquencourt. So Caroline proposed to scold me because I had intended to go away; had she a right to do it? To my mind, she had not.

Mademoiselle Derbin was sitting down and drinking tea; she honored me with a slight nod; I saw plainly enough that she was angry, but that she did not mean to appear so.

Monsieur Roquencourt took my hand and presented me to his niece with a comical expression on his face.

"'Bourguignon, here is Lisette; Lisette, here is Bourguignon.'"

"What does all this mean, uncle?" said Caroline testily. "What are you talking about, with your Bourguignons and your Lisettes?"

"What! what does that mean? Do you mean to say that you never saw _Les Jeux de l'Amour et du Hasard_?"

"Did you bring monsieur here to act? I thought that it was to breakfast with us.--Pray sit down, monsieur; my uncle is unendurable with his theatricals!"

"In other words, you are cross this morning; that's the real fact."

"I, cross? Upon my word! why should I be cross? What reason have I for being cross?"

"I tell you that you are. However, I warned Monsieur Dalbreuse; I said to him: 'My niece is mortally offended with you!'"

"Really, uncle, I don't know what is the matter with you to-day. Did I tell you to say anything like that? Why should I be offended with monsieur? Because he intended to go away last night without even bidding us adieu? But after all, is not monsieur his own master? We are nothing more than mere acquaintances of his; people with whom he is content to amuse himself when it does not put him out, but of whom he ceases to think as soon as he has left them."

"Oh! I trust you don't think that, mademoiselle."

"Yes, monsieur, I do think it; in fact I am convinced of it; if you had looked upon us in any other light, if you had had ever so little regard for us, you would not have wanted to leave us thus, and we should not be indebted solely to the drunkenness of your servant for the pleasure of seeing you again to-day."

"Mademoiselle, an unexpected circ.u.mstance sometimes forces us to part from those persons who are most attractive to us."

"Yes, to be sure, when there are other persons whom we are in a hurry to see, and for whom we forget even the simplest rules of courtesy."

"My dear fellow, I warned you--she is very angry with you."

"Mon Dieu! how disagreeable you are to-day, uncle!"

Monsieur Roquencourt laughed and drank his tea; I did the same. Caroline said nothing more, and did not turn her eyes in my direction. The uncle bore the whole weight of the conversation.

After a few moments, Caroline said to him:

"Have you heard from Madame Blemont this morning, uncle?"

"No, not yet."

"That lady has a most distinguished air; I like her appearance very much."

"Yes, she has very beautiful eyes; she reminded me of Mademoiselle Contat in----"

"Uncle, would it not be polite for you to go in person to ask how she pa.s.sed the night?"

"I! why my dear girl, that lady is all alone; would she care to receive a visit from a man?"

"Oh! you have reached the age, uncle, when visits from you are of no consequence."

"What do you say, niece? Do you know that I am still quite capable of making conquests? And if I chose----"

"But I am sure that you do not choose, my dear uncle. Go up to that lady's room, I beg you."

"I will go, but I will not answer for the consequences."

When her uncle had left us, Caroline turned to me, and said in a tone which denoted a depth of feeling that I had not supposed her to possess:

"Why were you going away so suddenly and without seeing me? Tell me why, I beg you."

"Urgent business summoned me to Paris."

"I do not believe that; you had no letter yesterday. What had I done to you to cause such an abrupt departure? Had I said anything which hurt you? I am sometimes so foolish, so thoughtless----"

"No, mademoiselle, far from it. I am overwhelmed by your kindness, your indulgence."

"My kindness! my indulgence! anyone would think that you were talking to your tutor! But why were you going, then?"

"I cannot tell you, mademoiselle."

"Aha! so monsieur has secrets. All right! I prefer to have you tell me that. But my portrait--did you intend to carry that away?"

"No, mademoiselle, I should have had it delivered to you."

"You would have sent it to me! but it is not finished; there is a great deal still to be done on it."

At that moment the uncle returned and said:

"The lady is not visible yet. I expected as much. But she is greatly touched by our thoughtfulness and feels a little better this morning."

"I am glad of that. I will go to see her.--By the way, uncle, when do we return to Paris?"

"When! upon my soul! that is a sensible question! I do exactly as she wishes, and she pretends to wait upon my desires. Ha! ha! that's a good joke!"

"Well, it seems to me that we might pa.s.s another week here. And if Monsieur Dalbreuse's business were not so urgent, we would invite him to accept a seat in our carriage, and take him to Paris with us.--Well, monsieur, will you tell us what you think of my uncle's proposition?"

"Yes, my dear fellow; for although my niece always arranges everything to suit her own whim, I must needs pretend to have done it. However, be sure that I shall be most delighted to have you for a travelling companion."

I did not know what to say, what to decide upon; it seemed to me that I ought to go, and yet it would be most agreeable to me to remain. A week soon pa.s.ses. I should not come into contact with Madame Blemont, since she would remain in her room, and she herself had entreated me not to go away.

While I made these reflections, Caroline came to my side. At last she tapped me lightly on the shoulder.

"Whenever you are ready, monsieur,--we are waiting for your reply."

"Oh, excuse me, mademoiselle; I was thinking----"

"Will you return to Paris with us?"