“No indeed! I shall be very glad to witness the joy which my wife cannot fail to feel when she sees you.—Come, baron, come.”
Croque would have preferred that Monsieur de Belleville should not be present at his first interview with his sister, but it was impossible to object. Moreover, after the conversation he had just had with his brother-in-law, he was justified in concluding that it was very easy to make him believe whatever one chose.
Thélénie had just changed her dress and was half reclining on a couch, when her husband entered her apartment, exclaiming from the outer room:
“My dear love, I am bringing someone whom you will be delighted to see, a visitor whom you did not expect, but who will give you great pleasure.”
Thélénie did not deign to turn her face toward the door, but contented herself with asking:
“Who is it? what’s the matter? whom have you brought?”
“Monsieur de Schtapelmerg.”
“Who’s he? Schtapelmerg! Where does he come from? I don’t know any such person.”
“She has forgotten your name, baron.”
“When madame hears my voice, I am quite sure that she will recognize me at once and will not ask again who I am.”