My uncle had offered her his arm. As soon as we entered the drawing-room, she said, while taking off her hat:
"Ah, now you must at once explain to me this story of your death, which I received from a notary. For six months I have been fancying myself a widow!"
"You can see that there's nothing in it," replied my uncle.
"That's nice!" she exclaimed, laughing and holding her hand out to him a second time. "Another of your eccentricities, I suppose!"
"Not in the least, my dear; André here can tell you that I positively passed for a dead man, and that he went into mourning for me. He has even entered into the possession of my property as my heir."
"It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good," she answered; "but how was it that they put you in the grave by mistake? I am curious to know."
"I was in Abyssinia."
"Close by, is it?" asked she, interrupting him.
"Yes," continued my uncle. "A friend who was travelling with me, stayed behind at a place on our way, while I went forward, and he managed to die in such a stupid and ill-timed manner that, as my baggage was with him, it was from my papers that his certificate of death was made out. It was only on my return here, five months later, that I learnt that I had been taken for dead. You see what a simple story it is."
"Well, of course," said my aunt, "such things are quite a common occurrence! That will teach you the result of not taking me with you on your travels. Was it also on account of this trip in Abyssinia that I have not seen you for two years? Oh stop, my dear nephew!" she added in an engaging tone, "a family scene is an instructive event; it forms——. Go on, captain, answer me."