Volume Ii Part 38 (2/2)
Ami's master replied by entering the garden, and Honorine was conscious of a feeling of gratification which she did not try to conceal.
She escorted her guest to the living-room, where Agathe and Edmond had remained. The former sprang to her feet when she saw Paul, exclaiming:
”Oh! this is a pleasant surprise, monsieur!”
”You must not thank monsieur too much,” said Honorine; ”if Ami had not come to see us, I fancy that monsieur would never have honored us with a visit.”
”Madame----”
”But it is wrong of me to say that.--You do not like society, and you lay aside your habits to-day, in our favor; we should be very grateful to you for it.”
Paul had remained in the doorway, looking at Edmond, whom he had not previously met.
”Allow me,” said Honorine, ”to present Monsieur Edmond Didier; he is the only person who comes now and then to enliven our solitude; but he is ent.i.tled to do so, for he loves Agathe, and I have promised to let them marry when they are a little more sensible.”
Paul's brow seemed to brighten; he bowed to Edmond and took the seat that Honorine offered him.
The conversation was a little cold and intermittent at first; but before long Switzerland was mentioned, and Italy; the owner of the Tower had travelled extensively, he described vividly the different countries he had visited, interspersing his narrative with curious anecdotes, incidents that had happened to him on the road and in public houses. And he told it all without ostentation, simply and with a facility that fascinated his hearers. The moments pa.s.sed and no one thought of the time.
Suddenly Paul stopped, as if ashamed of having monopolized the general attention so long.
”I am afraid that I have abused your patience and bored you,” he said.
”Forgive me; you see how dangerous it is to receive one who has been a long while without talking.”
”We should be very happy,” replied Honorine, ”if you would come sometimes and bore us in this same way. It must be very sad to live alone all the time, to see no one. Are you a misanthrope?”
”I have abundant reason to be.”
”And you are determined to see only evil-minded persons about you?”
”Ah! I no longer say that, madame!”
”And will it always be necessary for your dog to come here in order to induce you to honor us with a visit?”
Paul was about to reply, when the dog, who up to that time had lain quietly at his feet, suddenly raised his head, p.r.i.c.ked up his ears and gave a low, prolonged growl.
”Well, well! what is it, Ami?” said Agathe; ”are you tired of staying with us? do you want to go?”
The dog seemed to be listening, and in a moment began to growl again.
”This is strange!” said Paul, ”there must be a cause for this exhibition of temper on Ami's part; his eyes are blazing and his hair is standing on end.”
Ami left the room abruptly and rushed into the garden, barking violently.
”There certainly is something wrong,” said Edmond; ”perhaps some nocturnal prowler is pa.s.sing the house.”
They had all followed the dog, which continued to bark, rus.h.i.+ng against the wall, as if he wished to scale it.
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