"Oh, mademoiselle," he stammered out, "I--I cannot appear at this soiree because--you will see how prosaic my reason is--the fact is, I have not a dress-coat." "But you have plenty of time to send for your dress-coat; besides, you will want it for Thursday, there is a dinner on Thursday." Giraud blushed crimson. "But, mademoiselle, I cannot send for it either for Thursday or for later on, because I--I haven't one." "Not at all?" "Not at all!" "Oh, you are joking?" "No, I am not joking, mademoiselle! I do not possess a dress-coat." And then he added with a smile which was quite pathetic: "And there are plenty of poor wretches like I am who are in the same predicament!" "Oh!" said Bijou, taking the tutor's hand with an abrupt movement, "do forgive me--how horrid and thoughtless I am! You will detest me, shall you not?" She pressed his hand slowly in a way which sent a thrill through him. "Detest you?" he stammered out, almost beside himself with joy. "I adore you!--I simply adore you!" Bijou gazed at him in a startled way, but there was a tender expression in her eyes, which were dimmed with tears. Her voice was quite changed when she spoke again: "Go away now!" she said, "and do not say that again; you must never, never say it again!" When he reached the door he turned round, and saw that Bijou had thrown herself down on the divan, and was sobbing, with her face buried in the cushions. He wanted to go back to her, but he did not dare, and, without saying another word, he left the room. IV. BIJOU, who, as a rule, was to be seen every morning trotting about, either in the house or the park, did not appear until after the first luncheon-bell. Pierrot, who had been quite uneasy, rushed across to meet her, and assailed her with questions before she had had time to say good-morning to the marchioness and to her Uncle Alexis. He wanted to know why he had not seen her as usual in the dairy, where she always went every morning to inspect the cheeses. Why had she not been there, as she had not been out riding? "How do you know that I have not been out riding?" asked Bijou. "Because Patatras was in the stable," replied Pierrot. "I went to see." "Oh, then you keep a watch on me?" she said, laughing. "That is not keeping a watch on you," answered Pierrot, turning red; "and then, too, it isn't only me! we were both of us--M. Giraud--" "What grammar--good heavens--what grammar!" exclaimed M. de Jonzac, in despair. "What's it matter? If there was anyone here, I'd take care to put the style on; but when there's only us!" And then turning to Bijou, he continued: "It's quite true, you know! M. Giraud was just as much surprised as I. He kept on saying all the time: 'We always see mademoiselle every day hurrying about everywhere, she must be ill!' And then I'd say, 'Oh, no! it can't be that! the Bijou is never ill!' You see, Monsieur Giraud, I was quite right--"