"Come, come, my dear Edouard," said Alfred, who had observed his friend’s perturbation, "let us drop the White House, which does not deserve so much of our attention, and let us drink a glass of champagne to the health of these ladies."
As he spoke, he tried with his eyes to tranquillize and reassure Edouard, who soon recovered himself, realizing that he was foolish to be disturbed by a word spoken at random by someone who had never seen Isaure. But that cruel word had wounded him to the heart.
To put an end to a conversation which was painful to him, and to revenge himself in some measure upon Robineau, Edouard said to him:
"But, Monsieur de la Roche-Noire, do you, who are so well acquainted with everything curious or extraordinary in the neighborhood, do you know all that your own château contains?"
"My château? Why, now it contains a most illustrious family, and some most adorable ladies!"
"That is very well, but it is not all; you are unaware, I see, that there is a phantom, a ghost in this old château!"
"A ghost under my roof!" cried Robineau, changing color in his turn.
"A ghost!" repeated all the members of the La Pincerie family; and Uncle Mignon, in his terror, dropped upon his knees the cup of coffee he was just putting to his lips.
"Faith, I knew nothing about it," said Alfred.
"Nonsense, it is a joke, a piece of mischief on Monsieur Edouard’s part," rejoined Robineau, making an effort to smile.