"Ah, you see; you are afraid that she may consent!" "Afraid? oh, dear, no! I am quite convinced that such an ideal little creature has, about the man she dreams of for her husband, a vision of someone quite different from you." "And, supposing, by chance--I do not expect this at all--but, supposing you were mistaken, what should you do?" "What do you want me to do?" "Nothing at all. And it is just this--I am afraid that you would use your influence with Bijou." "No; I shall just tell her what I think; I ought to, under the circumstances--but nothing more." "Then you _are_ going to speak to her?" "Yes." "May I come again a little later?" "Oh, no! give me until to-morrow. I shall not speak to her, probably, before this evening; but that need not prevent your coming to dinner if you feel inclined to. It was for the--for the answer that I was putting you off until to-morrow." "If she should refuse, I shall go away." "Where?" "Oh, how can I care where?--my life will be over. I shall go and finish my days in some out-of-the-way spot." "You talked like that some twelve years ago; and here you are to-day--I cannot say younger than then." The marchioness stopped short, and then continued, with a smile: "Why should I not say it, though? You really do seem younger to me now than you did in those days; you are perfectly astonishing, my dear friend, anyone would think you were about forty-five." "If only it were true what you say!" "It is, I assure you! but you know that does not alter the fact that you are fifty-nine." M. de Clagny rose to take his leave. "Farewell!" he said, "until to-morrow." And then, with a pathetic little smile, he added: "Or until this evening. Yes,--towards the end of the day I shall be taken with a violent desire to see her again, and I shall come as I did the day before yesterday, and Thursday, and every day." He took Madame de Bracieux's hand in his, and clasped it nervously, as he murmured: "For the sake of our long friendship, I beg you, be merciful to me." * * * * * During luncheon the marchioness seemed preoccupied, and several times M. de Jonzac asked her what she was thinking about. "Whatever is it?" he said; "you have certainly got the blues." "Aunt must have gone to bed very late," said Jean de Blaye. "I heard you all come in; it must have been two o'clock." And then, turning to Bijou, he asked: "And how did you enjoy yourself? was it nice?" "Delightful," she answered, in an absent sort of way. "That little Lisette Renaud is perfectly charming," said M. de Rueille, "with her beautiful, large sad eyes. You liked her, too, did you not, grandmamma?" "Yes," answered Madame de Bracieux, "she is perfectly fascinating, and she has an admirable voice. I was astonished to find all that in Pont-sur-Loire; astonished, too, at the elegance of the house. There were plenty of pretty women, and very well dressed, too."