Both started slightly, as if the same idea had suddenly occurred to both of them. With a single look they must have read each other's thoughts.
"The richest heiress in France!"
"And an orphan!"
"And an immense landed property besides!" exclaimed the three other men in accents of undisguised covetousness.
After which, one of them, without noticing the interchange of glances between M. de Mornand and his friend, continued:
"And how old is this Mlle. de Beaumesnil?"
"Not over fifteen," replied M. de Ravil, "and exceedingly unprepossessing in appearance, sickly and positively insignificant looking, in fact."
"Sickly,—that is not objectionable, by any means, quite the contrary," said one of the party, reflectively.
"And homely?" remarked another, turning to Ravil. "You have seen her, then?"
"Not I, but one of my aunts saw the girl at the Convent of the Sacred Heart before Beaumesnil took her to Italy by the physician's order."