I had never noticed her looks before.
It was Alphonse who spoke first.
"There are several points, Monsieur," he said, angrily, "upon which I demand an explanation." "All right--but I am not going to quarrel with you, Giraud." I looked very straight at Isabella, whose eyes, however, did not fall under mine.

But I think she knew that I blamed her for this.
"You have insulted a friend of Miss Gayerson's." "A matter," was my reply, "which rests between Miss Gayerson and myself.

I have rid her house of a scoundrel--that is all." I thought Isabella was going to speak, but she closed her pale lips again and glanced at Alphonse.
"You have been supplying Madame de Clericy with money during the last six months ?" said he.--"Yes." "Your own money ?"--"Most certainly"-- and I was soft-hearted enough to omit reminding him that he owed me a thousand francs.
"You have repeatedly told me," pursued Alphonse, who seemed to be nursing his anger into an artificial life, "that you are penniless.
Whence comes this money ?" "I borrowed it." "And if Madame de Clericy fails to repay you, you will be ruined ?" "Precisely." "And you ask me to believe that," laughed Giraud, scornfully.
"No," answered I, going towards the door, for my temper was rising, and there remained but that way of avoiding a quarrel.

"You may do as you like." As I turned to close the door I caught sight of Isabella's face, and it wore a look that took me back to school holidays, when she and I wandered in the Hopton woods together, and were, I dare say, sentimental enough..