"Yes, father. I am all right, I promise you. What did Monsieur Grandcourt have to say?"
"Oh! he doesn't speculate! He's a prudent, intelligent man. He does an excellent business. His house is prosperous and is extending its connections every day."
"And his nephew—that poor Monsieur Gustave—did he tell you anything about him?"
"But when is he coming back? If he should come to see us—would that annoy you?"
"My dear Adolphine, in the first place, after what has happened, it's not at all likely that Gustave will ever come to our house again. That young man was in love with your sister. For a moment, he hoped that she would accept him for her husband, then his hopes were disappointed. He saw Fanny take Monléard in preference to him, and he must have suffered doubly—in his love and in his self-esteem. What do you suppose he will come to our house again for?—in search of memories, of regrets? No, our company would have no charms for him now."
"Ah! so you think, father, that our company would no longer be agreeable to him? But he was much attached to you."
"As the father of the young lady whose husband he wished to be; I know all about that."
"But, still, if he should come here, it seems to me that it would be very discourteous to send him away, to receive him unkindly."
"Without being unkind to him, you could easily make him understand that his presence here may be very embarrassing; that he may meet your sister and her husband here; that Monléard may have learned of his love for Fanny; and that it would be better, therefore, for him not to come again. But, I say once more, you will not have to tell him all that; for I am very certain, myself, that he has no intention of coming here."