As Thuillier did not immediately return, Colleville had time to go to the window and exclaim at seeing the little old gentleman driving away in an elegant coupe, of which the reader has already heard.
“The deuce!” cried Colleville; “what an ornate livery! If he is an adventurer he is a number one.”
At last Thuillier re-entered the room, his face full of care, his manner extremely grave.
“My dear la Peyrade,” he said, “you did not tell us that another proposal of marriage had been seriously considered by you.”
“Yes, I did; I told you that a very rich heiress had been offered to me, but that my inclinations were here, and that I had not given any encouragement to the affair; consequently, of course, there was no serious engagement.”
“Well, I think you do wrong to treat that proposal so lightly.”
“What! do you mean to say, in presence of these ladies, that you blame me for remaining faithful to my first desires and our old engagement?”
“My friend, the conversation that I have just had has been a most instructive one to me; and when you know what I know, with other details personal to yourself, which will be confided to you, I think that you will enter into my ideas. One thing is certain; we shall not go to the notary to-day; and as for you, the best thing that you can do is to go, without delay, to Monsieur du Portail.”
“That name again! it pursues me like a remorse,” exclaimed la Peyrade.
“Yes; go at once; he is awaiting you. It is an indispensable preliminary before we can go any farther. When you have seen that excellent man and heard what he has to say to you—well, then if you persist in claiming Celeste’s hand, we might perhaps carry out our plans. Until then we shall take no steps in the matter.”