"You are really insatiable," said M. d'Harville, with a smile; and then he added, with a painful emotion, which, despite his efforts, betrayed itself a little, "Then I shall see you no more to-day."
"Does it annoy you that I should go out so early?" asked Clémence, quickly, astonished at the tone of his voice. "If you wish it, I can put off my visit to Madame de Lucenay."
The Marquis had nearly betrayed himself, but continued, in an affectionate tone:
"Yes, my dear little sister, I am as annoyed to see you go out, as I shall be impatient to see you return, and these are faults of which I shall never be corrected."
"And you are quite right, dear; for if you did I should be very, very sorry."
The sound of a bell, announcing a visit, was now heard.
"Here is one of your guests, no doubt," said Madame d'Harville. "I leave you; but, by the way, what are you going to do in the evening? If you have no better engagement, I require you to accompany me to the Italian Opera; perhaps now you will like the music better."
"I am at your orders with the utmost pleasure."
"Are you going out by and by? Shall I see you before dinner?"
"I shall not go out; you will find me here."