In a few days you will be prepared to start." Despite the calm tone of the father, so had the son, from the instinct of fear and self-preservation, studied every accent, every glance of Olivier,--so had he constituted himself a spy upon the heart whose perfidy was ever armed, that he detected at once in the proposal some scheme hostile to his interests.

He made, however, no opposition to the plan suggested; and seemingly satisfied with his obedience, the father dismissed him.
As soon as he was in the streets, Gabriel went straight to the house of Madame Bellanger.

The hotel had been purchased in her name, and she therefore retained it.

Since her husband's death he had avoided that house, before so familiar to him; and now he grew pale and breathed hard as he passed by the porter's lodge up the lofty stairs.
He knew of his father's recent and constant visits at the house; and without conjecturing precisely what were Olivier's designs, he connected them, in the natural and acquired shrewdness he possessed, with the wealthy widow.

He resolved to watch, observe, and draw his own conclusions.