"Oh! sir," said Mouret, with his Southern enthusiasm, "the Crédit Immobilier's last operation was really astonishing! You cannot think how happy and proud I am to know you."
"Too kind, sir, too kind," repeated the baron, still smiling.
Henriette looked at them with her clear eyes without any awkwardness, standing between the two, lifting her head, going from one to the other; and, in her lace dress, which revealed her delicate neck and wrists, she appeared delighted to see them so friendly together.
"Gentlemen," said she at last, "I leave you to your conversation." Then, turning towards Paul, who had got up, she resumed: "Will you accept of a cup of tea, Monsieur de Vallagnosc?"
"With pleasure, madame," and they both returned to the drawing-room.
Mouret resumed his place on the sofa,
