She felt a shiver pass over her. Was this an allusion to Marius?
The other, changing his tone, went on,
“It’s only last night that I heard of poor Favoral’s discomfiture, at the bourse where I had gone for news. It was the general topic of conversation. Twelve millions! That’s pretty hard. The Mutual Credit Society might not be able to stand it. From 580, at which it was selling before the news, it dropped at once to 300. At nine o’clock, there were no takers at 180. And yet, if there is nothing beyond what they say, at 180, I am in.”
Was he forgetting himself, or pretending to?
“But please excuse me, mademoiselle,” he resumed: “that’s not what I came to tell you. I came to ask if you had any news of our poor Favoral.”
“We have none, sir.”
“Then it is true: he succeeded in getting away through this window?”
“Yes.”
“And he did not tell you where he meant to take refuge?”
Observing M. Costeclar with all her power of penetration, Mlle. Gilberte fancied she discovered in him something like a certain surprise mingled with joy.