"Ah! that is very fine. And tell me, do you know whether he will return to Paris soon?"
"Hum! I see what you are driving at!" thought Cherami, stroking his whiskers.
"Why, no, I don't," he replied. "According to what I learned at his uncle's house, it seems that Gustave, instead of returning to France, is going to Russia, where he will probably stay a long time—perhaps a year or two—or four."
Fanny made a gesture of disgust.
"What an idea! To go to Russia, where you freeze all the time! When one can be so comfortable in France—especially in Paris!"
"Oh! I beg your pardon; the women in Russia aren't frozen. It seems that there are some very pretty ones there, and some immensely rich! Gustave is a good-looking fellow, he'll turn some high-born damsel's head there, and make a marriage set in diamonds."
The little widow rose abruptly, lowered her veil, and said:
"Adieu, Monsieur Cherami! I must leave you."
"What! already? Had madame nothing else to say to me?"
"No. Frankly, I came because I wanted to learn something about Gustave; but what you have told me—— However, perhaps he will change his mind; he won't stay in Russia, he'll be bored to death there. In any event, if you learn anything about him, if you find out just where he is, it will be very good of you to let me know."