"Mon Dieu!" said Adolphine; "if it should be my father!"
"Why, I will go and offer him my hand, and I am sure that he won't refuse it."
"But if it should be——"
Adolphine had not time to finish her sentence. The door of her chamber was hastily thrown open, and her sister entered.
XXIX
A WOMAN OF FASHION
Fanny was resplendent in costume, jewels, and style; and it must be said that, like all women with whom personal adornment is a special study, she carried her splendor well, and that it added materially to the attractions she had received from nature.
The young woman was nowise perturbed at sight of Gustave Darlemont; she honored him with an affable smile, and her vanity seemed flattered that he whose hand she had refused should see her now in all the glory of her good-fortune and her magnificent toilet. Adolphine, on the contrary, was pale and trembling. As for Gustave, he could not conceal the emotion he felt on seeing Fanny again, and especially in such seductive guise.
"Bonjour, little sister!" said Fanny, kissing Adolphine.—"But, I cannot be mistaken—this is Monsieur Gustave. I am delighted to see you, monsieur."
Gustave barely managed to stammer:
"Madame—I confess that I did not expect—to meet you here."