“She must needs be perfectly disinterested; for I have it from the count
himself that none of the property is to be settled upon Miss Brandon.”
“That certainly is marvellously disinterested.”
Having said what he meant to say, the duke had entered the church; and
the old beau now took the word.
“The only thing that is clear to me in this matter is, that I think I
know the person whom this wedding will not please particularly.”
“Whom do you mean?”
“Count Ville-Handry’s daughter, a young girl, eighteen years old, and
wondrously pretty. Just imagine! Besides, I have looked for her all over
the church, and she is not there.”
“She is not present at the wedding,” replied the old gentleman, the
friend of Count Ville-Handry, “because she was suddenly taken ill.”
“So they say,” interposed the young man; “but the fact is, that a friend
of mine has just seen her driving out in her carriage in full dress.”
“That can hardly be so.”
“My friend was positive. She intended this pretty piece of scandal as a
wedding-present for her stepmother.”