"You are making me a piece of furniture, I see, madame," he said; "that is well done of you!"
"Oh! that would take too long," rejoined Fanny, looking up at her husband as she would have looked at the merest acquaintance; "it's a stool, that's all."
"Mon Dieu! what are you doing with that newspaper spread out before you?"
"I am posting myself as to the prices of stocks, my dear."
"That's a most entertaining occupation for a woman."
As he spoke, Auguste took the paper, crumpled it in his hands, and tossed it into a corner of the salon; Fanny watched him while he did it, then glanced at her sister, and said under her breath:
"You see, he doesn't want me to look at the market reports. But I shall look at some other paper—that's all."
"Does your arm still pain you, brother?" Adolphine asked Monléard, having observed his thoughtful expression.
"No, little sister, no. I thank you for being good enough to take some interest in it. There are people who take more interest in the rise and fall of stocks than in the wound I received; and yet——"
He paused, as if he were afraid of saying too much; but Adolphine had fully grasped the significance of his words, and she whispered to her sister: