"How, Monsieur," exclaimed the Count, with hauteur.
"But surely you understand," whispered De Berniers, hastily; "of course you must understand."
"Explain your observation," said the Count, aloud.
"Most extraordinary!" thought De Berniers. "He will spoil everything." Then again, in an undertone, "You know he is supposed to take my place."
"Monsieur," said the Count, more stiffly than ever, "I do not understand this enigma."
"How stupid I am!" said De Berniers suddenly to himself. "To be sure, it is necessary for him to affect surprise and indignation. The fact is, he acted it too well; for a moment he almost deceived me." Then turning to Raoul, he exclaimed: "M. de Montalvan, the Count shall know all. Learn, M. de Terville, that, finding a total absence of sympathy between myself and your charming niece, and feeling that I could in no way insure her happiness, I have determined to ask you to receive, instead of my own, the addresses of my noble friend, M. Raoul de Montalvan."
"The proposition, Monsieur, is scandalous. I refuse to entertain it. My niece would never listen to it."
"You are wrong, Monsieur; Mlle. de Terville joins us in this request."
"Impossible. Am I to understand, Monsieur," said the Count, addressing De Montalvan, "that my niece has indicated a preference for you over this gentleman?"
"I hardly dare to avow it, Monsieur, but—"