The dullest intellect could perceive that there was something special in the wind.

The two old ladies who were lodgers in the house came out from their rooms five minutes earlier than usual, and met the cortege from downstairs in the passage.
When Michel entered the room he at once looked round for Marie.
There she was standing at the soup-tureen with her back to the company.

But he could see that there hung down some ribbon from her waist, that her frock was not the one she had worn in the morning, and that in the article of her attire she had kept her word with him.

He was very awkward.

When one of the old ladies was about to seat herself in the chair next to Adrian--in preparation for which it must be admitted that Marie had made certain wicked arrangements--Michel first by signs and afterwards with audible words, intended to be whispered, indicated to the lady that she was required to place herself elsewhere.