Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/161

Rh insisted Claudie, meeting her father's objections. "In the first place, it is a good riddance for us. Then, you may be sure the Count would not burden himself with this scapegrace nor invite him at all, but to be agreeable to us, and to testify his interest in me. We should be disobliging him, believe me, to frustrate his good intentions. It's his mode of opening to me the doors of Escal-Vigor. Between ourselves, he doubtless thinks nothing of this dauber, or at least, exaggerates his slight merits."

In the early days, when Guidon returned in the evening from the château, she would question him as to how they had spent the time, how things went on at Escal-Vigor, and upon the words and manner of the Dykgrave. "Did the Count inquire after me? What did he say to thee? He has a great interest in us, has he not? Go on, let us hear; speak out, conceal nothing from me. Certainly he must have confessed to thee a certain weakness for thy sister?"

Guidon replied evasively, but so as not to compromise himself. Yes, the Count for sure had inquired after her, as also after their father and even the servants; why, yes even of the farm beasts, too. But not with