“Have you sent out all your invitations for the party?”
Vivienne looked up inquiringly and answered: “Yes.”
“That is strange,” said her brother; “I saw Count Mont d’Oro this morning and he told me that he had not received one.”
“I did not desire his company,” Vivienne replied, “and, therefore, did not invite him. I have asked the Countess his mother, and Miss Renville, and that ought to satisfy you.”
But Pascal was not satisfied. He had met the Count that morning, who had told him that he had a most important secret to communicate, but that it would not be proper to tell it until his sister Vivienne had become Countess Mont d’Oro. He had added:
“Vivienne will be a woman in a few days. Why not have the wedding occur within a week thereafter and end all this nonsense?”
The Count then remarked that he had not received an invitation to the birthday party.
Again turning to his sister, Pascal said: “I presume that you have invited Lieutenant Duquesne.”
“How could I omit him,” asked Vivienne, “when he is our own guest?”
“I invited him,” said Pascal, “out of compliment to the Admiral, but did not suppose that he would accept, nor would he have done so if he had not met you that day in the garden.”