"Much as ever," replied Truyn.
"And where is your wife?" asked Ilsenbergh.
"I do not know."
"Is she still at Nice?"
"I do not know." And as he spoke his expression was colder and more set than before.
"Are you to be long in Rome?" said the countess, anxious to divert the conversation into a more pleasing channel.
"As long as my little companion likes and it suits her," answered Truyn. His 'little companion' always meant his only child, a girl of about twelve.
"You must bring Gabrielle to see me very soon," said the lady. "My Mimi and Lintschi are of the same age."
"I will bring her as soon as possible; unluckily she is so very shy she cannot bear strangers. But she has quite lost her heart to the general and to our cousin Sempaly."
"What, Nicki!" exclaimed the countess. "Do you mean that he has the patience to devote himself to children?"