"How thoughtless I am, to mention his name! I meant to say, the gentleman who sent you to bring this bouquet to me."
Violette took her leave, deeply moved by the interview she had had with the lady, and wondering what there was in that commonplace conversation to cause her such emotion. She went at once to the count's and found him impatiently awaiting her; he made her repeat the conversation she had had with Madame de Grangeville, to the slightest detail.
"What do you think of that lady?" enquired Monsieur de Brévanne, when Violette had told him everything.
"I think that she is very good-looking, that is to say, she must have been good-looking; her features are worn now--she is not young, is she, monsieur?"
"No, certainly not. Was she pleasant and affable with you?"
"Yes, monsieur, she was very polite; but her manner was rather haughty."
"Very well, my child, go back to your flowers; next week you shall carry another bouquet to Madame de Grangeville."
"Very good, monsieur; and must I let her think that that one too comes from a Monsieur de Merval? For she is fully persuaded that it was a gentleman of that name who sent me to her."
"You must be very careful not to undeceive her."
On leaving the count, the young flower girl met Georget, whom she told what she had been doing, and who walked with her to her booth, saying:
"We have come back to Paris. Monsieur Malberg gives me writing and figuring to do and sends me on errands; but that won't prevent me from seeing you every day. I am so happy! every morning I will come to the boulevard to bid you good-morning, and in the evening I will come to help you carry home your flowers."
"I agree to that, Georget, but only on condition that it doesn't interfere with your work. I haven't told you, but I believe that Monsieur Malberg will help me find my family."
"Your family! what need of them have you now? Don't I fill the place of your family?"
"But, Georget, a person is always very glad to have a family, and if I still had a mother----"
"Your mother! as she abandoned you, it must have been that she didn't love you."
"Who can tell? Perhaps she was compelled to."
"And if your family should prove to be rich, they wouldn't be willing that I should be your husband perhaps. Look you, Violette, I prefer that you shouldn't find anybody."