Meanwhile the dinner drew to a close. The dessert was brought in, consisting of figs, spoiled pears, green grapes, and musty peaches.
"No comparison is possible," said the baron, "between these wretched fruits and the delicious fruits we get at Paris."
"These are horrible!" added his wife, biting into the bad part of a peach. Then she turned to Mathilde and asked her if she should return to Genoa.
"Yes; but not until evening," she replied.
"Well, we must make haste, for we are going to the theatre," said Muse.
They all arose from the table. The baron offered cigars to Jacob and Henri Segel, but he hastened to quit their society. One appeared to be compromising, the other altogether odious.
Gromof and the Tsigane chatted together. Muse drew Mathilde into an obscure corner of the grotto to ask her this question:--
"Are you happy?"
"Above all expression," replied she. "I have only one sorrow,--to see our native land in such an unhappy condition."
"And Jacob?"