Monsieur Colinet handed a letter to Georgette, who eagerly seized it, broke the seal, and walked to the window to read it, regardless of her visitors. Thereupon Dupont turned to the new-comer and asked:
"Have you been in Paris before?"
"No, monsieur; this is the first time."
"Do you mean to settle here?"
"Oh! no, monsieur. In fact, I promised mother not to stay more than four days. I'm going home Saturday."
This reply caused Dupont most intense satisfaction, for he had begun to fear that he should find the young man at his compatriot's every day. He continued, with a more amiable air:
"Are you in business?"
"I raise sheep, and my father calves."
"That's a very fine trade! Our first parents raised cattle, more or less; we content ourselves nowadays with eating them, and that is all the more reprehensible because it's not the way to multiply the races."
Mademoiselle Georgette finished reading her letter, which seemed to have interested her deeply; as she folded it, she uttered an "at last!" which seemed to say many things.