Volume Ii Part 37 (1/2)
Although they were still at some distance from the window at which he was standing, Edmond instantly recognized Thelenie. Noticing his momentary embarra.s.sment, Agathe said to him:
”I guessed right, did I not? You know that lady?”
”Yes, I think that I have met her and her husband; I knew her husband the better of the two.”
”Ah! her husband. Well, why do you leave the window? are you afraid to have her see you with us?”
”Oh! mademoiselle, everywhere, before the whole world, I should be proud and happy to be seen with you.”
”Very well! then stay at the window. She is coming near now; we shall see whether she will stare at you as she stared at me.”
”Bless my soul!” cried Honorine; ”I don't know whether that man is a great German n.o.bleman, but he certainly is very ugly! and he cuts a most curious figure!”
Thelenie, although she pretended not to look in the direction of the summer-house, saw that there were people at the window; she touched Croque's arm and whispered:
”Look carefully; there are those women.”
”I see; but there's a young man with them.”
”A young man!”
Thelenie looked up and saw Edmond. Her face became ghastly pale. But, making a mighty effort to conceal her emotion, she stopped in front of the summer-house, bowed to the young man and said with a gracious smile:
”Why! it's Monsieur Edmond Didier! I am delighted to meet you here. I hope that we shall have the pleasure of seeing you occasionally. We have bought a place here and mean to stay all summer.”
Edmond bowed very coldly, but made no reply.
Thereupon the beautiful brunette nodded her head to him very familiarly, and, as if she had not noticed the two ladies who were present, turned to Croque and said:
”Come, my dear baron, we must walk faster; my husband will not know what has become of us; he must be worried.--Au revoir, Monsieur Edmond!”
The pretended baron raised his hat and bowed very respectfully as he pa.s.sed the window, muttering:
”_Bigre_! a pretty morsel, that young blonde! I wouldn't object at all to that game!”
”Very well! take her, I give her to you,” said Thelenie, contracting her heavy eyebrows.
”You give her to me? that's all right, so far as it goes. But unfortunately she isn't at your disposal.”
”Can it be that Croque has lost all his imagination, ingenuity, audacity? Make a conquest of that girl, I tell you, and on the day that you furnish me with proof that you have succeeded,--that she has yielded,--I'll give you three thousand francs!”
”Three thousand francs and such a sweet little phiz to win! I'll do it or forfeit my name; not Schtapelmerg, but my real name.”
”What a brazen air that woman has!” said Agathe, when the brother and sister had disappeared. ”She spoke to you just as if you were alone; she didn't condescend even to bow to us. Shall you go to her house?”
”Oh no! no, indeed! I a.s.sure you that I haven't the slightest intention of doing so.”
”Why, you are unreasonable, Agathe,” said Honorine; ”if Monsieur Edmond is intimate with this lady's husband, why do you wish him not to go to their house?”
”I knew Chamoureau before he married that woman, madame; now----”