Oswald, who had been bestowing but a languid attention upon the conversation, now exclaimed angrily, "I detest such vague imputations,--no one has any right to sully the fame of a number of unknown women by a suspicion that--that--" Confused by Sempaly's surprised, searching glance, he stopped short.
"What is he thinking of?" asked Sempaly, looking round at the others.
"A betrothed lover cannot tolerate any aspersion cast upon the fair sex," said Georges.
"Qu'a cela ne tienne," rejoined Sempaly, "the betrothed of Gabrielle Truyn ought to be above such sensitiveness. Gabrielle comes from the corner of the earth, which Love Divine sheltered beneath angels' wings, when the devil showered his poison over all creation. Happy he who meets with such a girl!"
"You do not know her," said Truyn, whose eyes, nevertheless, sparkled with gratified paternal pride.
"I knew her as a child," said Sempaly slowly, "and I know who completed her education."
For a moment they were all silent, and then Truyn began, "I must tell you a delicious bit of gossip, Sempaly;--only fancy, in the spring, in Paris, Capriani, one fine day, sent that goose, Zoë Melkweyser, to sue for Gabrielle's hand! What do you think of that?"
"Incredible!" exclaimed Sempaly.
"Was it not?" said Truyn, who took special delight in recounting this tale, and turning to Oswald, he went on, "Our Gabrielle and a son of Capriani,--was there ever such a joke?"
But Oswald was silent.