“Then it is—?”
His wife did not give him time to continue. They understood one another at a glance.
“Yes, my dear, it is Mademoiselle Lichtenbach.”
A silence fell throughout the room. Marcel had gone straight to his mother, to embrace her. He now stood looking at his father, who, standing before the mantelpiece, was endeavouring to fathom the meaning of this unexpected visit.
“What is she like?” asked Marcel.
“I scarcely looked at her, I must confess, my child. When her name was announced I was very much astonished. Amélie and Geneviève were with me at the time. I left them in the salon as soon as Mademoiselle Lichtenbach entered. She appeared to me to be tall, and rather good looking. It was, however, her voice, a sweet, charming voice, which impressed me most favourably.”
“It is different from her father’s, then,” growled Baradier.
“And how long has she been here?”
“Half an hour, at least.”
“And my sister is with them?”