"If monsieur will kindly follow me?"
Fandor was shown into the drawing-room. He had advanced only a step or two when he was greeted with:
"Why! Monsieur Fandor!"
"I am delighted to see you!" cried Fandor, shaking hands with Monsieur Barbey and Monsieur Nanteuil. Both gave him a pleasant smile of welcome.
"You have come to see Mademoiselle Dollon, I suppose?"
"Yes. We have come to assure her that we will do all in our power to help her out of her terrible difficulties. She wrote to us a few days ago to ask if we would act as intermediaries regarding the sale of some of her unfortunate brother's productions, also to see if we could get her a situation in some dressmaking establishment.... We have come to assure her of our entire sympathy."
"That is most kind of you! They told you, did they not, that she had gone out? I think she will not be absent long, for I have an appointment with her. But, if you will allow me, I will go to the office and ask if they have the least idea of which way she has gone, for I have little time to spare, and if we could go to meet her, it would save, at least, a few minutes...."
Jérôme Fandor rose and went towards one of the drawing-room doors.
"You are making a mistake," said Monsieur Nanteuil, "the office is this way," and he pointed to another door.
"Bah! All roads lead to Rome!" With that, Fandor went out by the door he had approached first....