"Oho! you see her every day, do you?"
"She might have told me, have let fall a hint. Ah! I never would have believed it, Constance!"
"By the way, have you given up going to Dauphiné? I say—Frédéric! Frédéric!"
But he was already far away, running like a madman to Mademoiselle de Valmont; and Dubourg left the house, saying to himself:
"He's a good one to accuse women of perfidy! Ah! these men!—I must go and dine. I don't know how it has happened, but I am already in debt at my restaurant, and the month has only half gone!"
When Frédéric reached the general's house, he had formed no plan of action, and had no idea what he was going to say or do. He entered the house, where his was a familiar presence, and walked rapidly through several rooms to the salon where Constance usually sat. She was there, seated at her piano. Seeing that she was intent upon her music and as placid as ever, Frédéric stood for a moment, gazing at her.
Constance turned her head when she heard footsteps. She smiled when she recognized her visitor, whose excitement she did not notice at once.
"Is it you, monsieur," she said; "I am glad you have come; you are a good musician and can help me decipher this piece."
The young man did not reply, but continued to gaze at Constance, who, being accustomed to his peculiar and often taciturn humor, did not at first observe that anything was wrong; but, finding that he did not approach, she turned again, and then his evident excitement did not escape her notice.
"What is the matter, monsieur?" she asked, with manifest concern; "you seem excited."