"Very well," exclaimed Monsieur Charles, "since she is satisfied, we are."
Then a sudden reflection saddened him. His heavy eyelids drooped, and an expression of regret passed over his countenance.
"Of course, my good lad," he said, "we shall now abandon the other scheme which you proposed to me this morning."
Nénesse seemed overcome with astonishment.
"Why?" said he.
"What? Why? Why, because—because—well, you surely know why! You may be sure that we didn't leave the child with the Sisters of the Visitation till twenty years of age to—well, in short, it is quite impossible!"
He winked his eyes and twisted his mouth in his attempts to make himself understood without saying too much. To think of the girl being in the Rue aux Juifs! a young lady who had received such an education! a maiden of such absolute purity, brought up in complete ignorance of evil, and carefully screened from its slightest breath!
"Excuse me," exclaimed Nénesse, bluntly, "but that won't suit me at all. I am taking a wife because I wish to settle down to work, and I want both my cousin and the business——"
"The confectionery business!" exclaimed Madame Charles.