They were walking quite slowly and Thélénie seemed to be speaking with much earnestness. Croque, as he listened to her, strutted proudly along in his new clothes, and twirled his cane.
Although they were still at some distance from the window at which he was standing, Edmond instantly recognized Thélénie. Noticing his momentary embarrassment, Agathe said to him:
“I guessed right, did I not? You know that lady?”
“Yes, I think that I have met her and her husband; I knew her husband the better of the two.”
“Ah! her husband. Well, why do you leave the window? are you afraid to have her see you with us?”
“Oh! mademoiselle, everywhere, before the whole world, I should be proud and happy to be seen with you.”
“Very well! then stay at the window. She is coming near now; we shall see whether she will stare at you as she stared at me.”
“Bless my soul!” cried Honorine; “I don’t know whether that man is a great German nobleman, but he certainly is very ugly! and he cuts a most curious figure!”
Thélénie, although she pretended not to look in the direction of the summer-house, saw that there were people at the window; she touched Croque’s arm and whispered:
“Look carefully; there are those women.”