"I am anxious about his peace of mind, and then, too, I do not care for him to make himself completely ridiculous." "You must know, my dear Bertrade, that I have seen for some time past that Paul was gone on Bijou, just as all the others are--for there is no mistake about it, they all are; and the last few days I have noticed that your abbe even has begun to lose his indifference; don't you think so?" "It is very possible!" "Yes, and I am sure that he isn't going along quite so peacefully in his worship of God as formerly?" "And that does not displease you either, grandmamma, does it? Come, now, own it!" "Oh, well; as long as it is just a little beneficial upset for him, I don't mind; but I should not like it to develop into anything serious--you understand where I draw the line?" "No, because I always pity all those who are suffering from such little upsets--as you call them--even when they are mild, I think they are calculated to make people suffer greatly." "You always see a darker side of things than I do; at all events, I think that the idea of carrying Paul off is a very excessive and unwise kind of remedy. He keeps a strict guard over himself, and no one suspects the true state of things except you--" "And all the others!" "Do you think so?" "I am sure of it." "Well, even if it be so, that is of no importance, provided that Bijou does not suspect it herself. Why do you not answer?" "Because I am not of the same opinion as you, grandmamma, and you do not like that as a rule, particularly when it is a question of Bijou." "What do you mean?" "Just what I said, nothing else." "Then, according to you, Bijou has noticed it from--" "From the very first day." "And even if that should be so, she cannot help it! Besides, what danger does she run?" "None at all." "Paul is honourable." "Undoubtedly, and even if he were not, Bijou would have nothing to fear for several reasons." "What are they?" "Well, in the first place--her own indifference. Paul makes about as much impression on her, I believe, as a table." "Next?" "Next? Why, that's all!" "You said 'several reasons,'--you have given me one; let us hear what the others are." "Oh, no!" said Madame de Rueille, "it was just my way of speaking." "Nonsense! you are not clever at telling untruths, my dear Bertrade; I am pretty sure I know what you thought!" "I don't think you do." "Well, you'll see! You were thinking that one of the reasons why Bijou will never take any notice of Paul is--" "Because he is married." "Yes, of course; but you fancy, too, I am sure of it, that Bijou is thinking of someone else? Ah, you see! you don't answer now! Yes, you believe, as your husband does--he told me so two or three days ago--that she is madly in love with young Giraud!" "Oh, grandmamma, what an unlikely supposition! In the first place, Bijou is not, and never will be, madly in love with anyone." "What do you mean?"