"Oh! nobody—a friend."
Then, three minutes later, in front of Rosanette's door:
"Come on up," said Arnoux; "she'll be glad to see you. What a savage you are just now!"
A gas-lamp, which was directly opposite, threw its light on him; and, with his cigar between his white teeth and his air of contentment, there was something intolerable about him.
"Ha! now that I think of it, my notary has been at your place this morning about that mortgage-registry business. 'Tis my wife reminded me about it."
"A wife with brains!" returned Frederick automatically.
"I believe you."
And once more Arnoux began to sing his wife's praises. There was no one like her for spirit, tenderness, and thrift; he added in a low tone, rolling his eyes about: "And a woman with so many charms, too!"
"Good-bye!" said Frederick.
Arnoux made a step closer to him.