Spero trembled and uttered a low cry. The painter looked suspiciously at him, but the vicomte laughingly said that he had knocked against a stone, and so the painter continued:
"The young lady has captivated me—"
"Of which lady are you speaking?" asked the vicomte, uneasily.
"Of the pretty blonde, Mademoiselle de Larsagny!"
"Ah! she is certainly very handsome," cried Spero, breathing more freely.
"Don't you think so?" exclaimed Gontram, enthusiastically. "That is the young lady I mean."
"In that case I can only congratulate you on the choice you have made."
"Thank you. Then you think Carmen de Larsagny charming?"
"Yes. From what I have seen of the young lady she deserves the love of such a splendid fellow as you are."
"If I were to obey the voice of love," said Gontram, "I would go to her now and say: 'I love you—be mine!'"