Bijou shrugged her pretty shoulders.
"Don't try to take me in like that, Jean, my dear; I know you too well, you see. You are different, I tell you! You have gradually got very abrupt, restless, and absent-minded. Listen, now,—would you like me to tell you what it is?"
Seated at some distance away from them, Madame de Nézel was watching them, with an expression of melancholy resignation.
Bijou glanced across at her, and the young girl's violet eyes gleamed between her long, thick lashes, as she said:
"You are in love with someone who does not return your love."
Jean de Blaye coloured up furiously.
"You don't know what you are talking about," he answered.
"Well, then, why have you gone so red? Oh, how proud you are. You are vexed because I have found this out." And then, after a short silence, she began again: "Have you told her?"
"Have I told what? and whom? My dear Bijou, how foolish you are."
"Have you told Mad—" She stopped abruptly, and then, with her face turned towards Madame de Nézel, she continued: "The person with whom you are in love, have you told her that you love her?"