A Parisian Romance — page 207: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

198 A PARISIAN ROMANCE, “Oh! my dear baron!” exclaimed Rosa, eagerly, “instead of going to him, send for him to come — here! Please! I would so like to see him!” “Oh! yes, baron, do!” cried the other girls. “But——” began Chevrial, hesitating. “Ah! pleaded Rosa, with her sweetest smile, “you cannot refuse me such a trifle as that.” | “Very well, so be it, if it will amuse you,” said the baron, resuming his seat. “Ambroise, tell him to come here, and bring me pen and ink.” “But tell me, baron,” said Rosa, “since he learned of his wife’s death, has he continued to go to the bank as usual?” “Yes, exactly. He has affected the most com- plete indifference.” “ After all,” said Vaumartin. “It was a fortunate thing for him to be relieved of her.” “Yes, now he can marry again.” “Hush!” said Rosa, in a warning whisper. “Here he is.” As Henri caught sight of the supper and the guests, he hesitated a moment, as if doubtful whether to enter, and then he advanced quietly to the baron’s side. He was pale and haggard, and there were deep purple rings beneath his eyes, but his manner was perfectly composed. “You have the balance sheets?” asked the baron, politely. “Yes, monsieur, these papers must be signed be- fore to-morrow,” Eomichooks. co