"And what do you?" said the Count, looking her straight in the eye.
"Oh! he would never cause me great palpitation," she returned meaningly.
"Are you making any allusion to Mlle. Darbois?" he asked, stopping abruptly.
"I am engaged to Mlle. Darbois, I believe you know, Madame. You are piqued because you love the Duke de Morlay and he seems to be deserting you to hover near my fiancée. Do as I do; have a little patience; to-morrow by this time the fête will be over and I shall have left with Mlle. Darbois. Don't be either too nervous or too malicious, it does not agree with your type of beauty. I kiss your hands."
He went towards the Château, and took up his vigil in the little salon adjoining Esperance's room.
The Countess of Morgueil was confused and mortified. "He is not so stupid as he looks," she thought.
Albert was reading, but listening all the time. Finally a carriage stopped before the Château. He went down quickly and caught Esperance in his arms so tightly that the young girl gave a little scream.
"Oh! pardon, pardon. It is so long since I have seen you."
He kissed Mme. Darbois's hand and almost crushed the professor's fingers in his nervous grasp. He asked anxiously concerning Penhouet, and expressed his desire to return there immediately. Maurice and Genevieve came running up.
"How happy every one looks here," said Mme. Darbois.