Gustave did not close his eyes that night; where is the lover who could sleep, in his position? Only a lover who is not in love. At eight o'clock, the young man went down to the office, where there were as yet no clerks; but he found his uncle, who was always at his desk early.
"The deuce!" said Monsieur Grandcourt; "you're on hand in good season! Was it love of work that woke you?"
"Yes, uncle; I have some accounts to look over."
"How pale you look, and exhausted! One would say that you had been up all night."
"I am just out of bed."
"I'll wager that you didn't sleep. Is there anything new in your love affair?"
"Why—no, uncle."
"Your dear Fanny hasn't played you some new trick?"
"Ah! uncle, at the point we have reached——"