With these words she got up, throwing M. Hervart a look which was understood. But as M. Hervart rose to his feet, Mme. Des Boys approached him:
"I have something very interesting to tell you."
M. Hervart had to let Rose and Leonor plunge alone into the wood in which he had, during these last few days, experienced such delightful emotions. Mme. Des Boys took him into the garden.
"I have a question to ask you," she said. "First of all, is architecture a serious profession?"
"Very," said M. Hervart.
"But do people make really a lot of money at it?"
"Lanfranc, who was a beggar when I first knew him, is probably richer than you are to-day. Leonor will go even further, I should think, for he seems an intelligent fellow and knows a lot about his business."
"You're not speaking out of mere friendship for him?"
"Not at all. Far from it; to tell you the truth I'm not very fond of either of them."
"But they're thorough gentlemen and very good company."