“Whotoldme!“hereplied，ratherastonishedatherabrupttone。
“Why，Girard，whomImetjustnowatthedooroftheCafeFrancais。Hehasgoneonajourney，oristogo。“
Shegaveasob。
“Whatsurprisesyouinthat？Heabsentshimselflikethatfromtimetotimeforachange，and，mafoi，Ithinkhe’sright，whenonehasafortuneandisabachelor。Besides，hehasjollytimes，hasourfriend。He’sabitofarake。MonsieurLangloistoldme——“
Hestoppedforpropriety’ssakebecausetheservantcamein。Sheputbackintothebaskettheapricotsscatteredonthesideboard。