"Gone out!" cried Gustave; "she is better, then?"
"_Dame_! yes, monsieur; it's evident that madame has got rid of her sick headache."
"And she left no message for me, if I came?"
"Very well; I will come again. Ask her to wait for me, when she returns."
The young man hurried to Monsieur Gerbault's. He found Adolphine alone. She read at once on his face that he was suffering, and asked him as she took his hand:
"What has happened, my friend? Something is the matter."
"Why---- Have you seen your sister to-day?"
"No, she hasn't been here. Why do you ask?"
"Because I haven't seen her to-day, either. This morning, I called on her; I was told that she had a headache and was asleep. But this evening I called again, and she had gone out."
"Well, she has probably gone to see some of her friends. She has retained some acquaintances from the time when her husband was living, and she goes to see them sometimes. I can see nothing disturbing in that."
"But, after a whole day without seeing each other, to go out in the evening without saying where she's going--without leaving a word for me!"
"Fanny is so thoughtless; she probably forgot."
"Dear Adolphine! you try to excuse your sister, but I am sure that you blame her, at the bottom of your heart. Don't you remember how unkind she was to me last night?"
"Yes, yes, you did notice that she left us to go and talk with that Monsieur de la Bérinière. Who is that man? wherever did she know him?"
"He was a friend of her husband, and in that way became acquainted with father."
"No, he's an old bachelor; he asked father once for my hand."
"That wasn't the reason; but I refused him."
"Do you know, Adolphine, I have no idea what is going on in Fanny's head, but all this isn't natural. At the point we have reached,--we are to be married in six weeks, and we are both free,--two people don't pass a whole day without exchanging a glance, or a grasp of the hand. I tell you, there's something wrong. Could she deceive me again? Oh! no, that isn't possible; it would be too ghastly! too shameless!--No, I blush for having had such a thought. I have no doubt that she is at home and waiting for me. Au revoir, little sister!"
"Gustave, if anything should happen, you would tell me at once, wouldn't you?"