But Fauchery, without showing the very slightest astonishment, looked fixedly at him.
"Get along, you idiot!" he said finally as he shrugged his shoulders.
Then he shook hands with the other gentlemen, while La Faloise, in his discomfiture, felt rather uncertain whether he had said something funny.
The men chatted.

Since the races the banker and Foucarmont had formed part of the set in the Avenue de Villiers.

Nana was going on much better, and every evening the count came and asked how she did.
Meanwhile Fauchery, though he listened, seemed preoccupied, for during a quarrel that morning Rose had roundly confessed to the sending of the letter.

Oh yes, he might present himself at his great lady's house; he would be well received! After long hesitation he had come despite everything--out of sheer courage.

But La Faloise's imbecile pleasantry had upset him in spite of his apparent tranquillity.
"What's the matter ?" asked Philippe.