Then, as if answering an inquiry he had been making of himself for some minutes, he said to Laurent: "But, surely you must know my wife?
Don't you remember that little cousin who used to play with us at Vernon ?" "I had no difficulty in recognising Madame," answered Laurent, looking Therese full in the face.
This penetrating glance troubled the young woman, who, nevertheless, gave a forced smile, and after exchanging a few words with Laurent and her husband, hurried away to join her aunt, feeling ill at ease.
As soon as they had seated themselves at table, and commenced the soup, Camille thought it right to be attentive to his friend.
"How is your father ?" he inquired.
"Well, I don't know," answered Laurent.

"We are not on good terms; we ceased corresponding five years ago." "Bah!" exclaimed the clerk, astonished at such a monstrosity.
"Yes," continued the other, "the dear man has ideas of his own.

As he is always at law with his neighbours, he sent me to college, in the fond hope that later on, he would find in me an advocate who would win him all his actions.

Oh! daddy Laurent has naught but useful ambitions; he even wants to get something out of his follies." "And you wouldn't be an advocate ?" inquired Camille, more and more astonished.
"Faith, no," answered his friend with a smile.

"For a couple of years I pretended to follow the classes, so as to draw the allowance of 1,200 francs which my father made me.