"Why, he is becoming a charming cavalier!" said Camilla; "he told me that I was ravishingly beautiful; he noticed my costume! He is more gallant than Léodgard.—I believe that we can make a conquest of him now, Flavia."
"Oh! I no longer care about it; I preferred him when he was all in black and looked like a bear."
While the two ladies exchanged their opinions concerning Jarnonville, the new-comer was being discussed also in a group of young gentlemen.
"Did you see Jarnonville, Monclair?"
"Yes, I have just bade him good-evening."
"Don't you think that he cuts an entirely different figure from what he used?"
"Why so? because he wears a blue cloak instead of a black one?"
"No, it is not that; but because he no longer has that gloomy, unhappy expression that he used to carry with him everywhere."
"That is true," said young La Valteline; "I noticed the change; it impressed me when Jarnonville entered the salon."
"Well, messieurs, what is there so surprising in that?" said Monclair; "after all, grief is not eternal! After the rain comes the sunshine! And Jarnonville's coming here proves that he is no longer a foe to pleasure."