And then he began to read the few lines of the telegram. As he read, his face brightened, surprise followed uneasiness, and then a great joy took the place of discontent. He said to the man,-- "You can carry back an answer, can you not?" "Yes, sir." "Well, Peter, bring me pen and ink at once." Peter brought pen, ink, and paper, and Monsieur Dalize wrote his telegram. He gave it to the man, and, feeling through his pockets, pulled out a louis. "Here, my good fellow," said he: "that will pay for the telegram and will pay you for your trouble." The man looked at the coin in the hollow of his hand in an embarrassed way, fearing that he had not exactly understood. "Come, now,--run," said Monsieur Dalize; "good news such as you have brought me cannot be paid for too dearly; only hurry." "Ah, yes, sir, I will hurry," said the man; "and thank you very much, thank you very much." And, in leaving, he said to himself, as he squeezed the money in his hand,-- "I should be very glad to carry to him every day good news at such a price as that." When he was alone, Monsieur Dalize reread the welcome despatch. Then he turned around, and looked towards a window on the second floor of the chateau, whose blinds were not yet opened. From this window his looks travelled back to the telegram, which seemed to rejoice his heart and to give him cause for thought. He was disturbed in his reverie by the noise of two blinds opening against the wall. He rose hastily, and could not withhold the exclamation,-- "At last!" "Oh, my friend," said the voice of a lady, in good-natured tones. "Are you reproaching me for waking up too late?" "It is no reproach at all, my dear wife," said Monsieur Dalize, "as you were not well yesterday evening." "Ah, but this morning I am entirely well," said Madame Dalize, resting her elbows on the sill of the window. "So much the better," cried Mr. Dalize, joyfully, "and again so much the better." "What light-heartedness!" said Madame Dalize, smiling. "That is because I am happy, do you know, very happy." "And the cause of this joy?" "It all lies in this little bit of paper," answered Monsieur Dalize, pointing to the telegram towards the window. "And what does this paper say?" "It says,--now listen,--it says that my old friend, my best friend, has returned to France, and that in a few hours he will be here with us." Madame Dalize was silent for an instant, then, suddenly remembering, she said,-- "Roger,--are you speaking of Roger?" "The same." "Ah, my friend," said Madame Dalize, "now I understand the joy you expressed." Then she added, as she closed the window, "I will dress myself and be down in a moment." Hardly had the window of Madame Dalize's room closed than a little girl of some ten years, with a bright and pretty face surrounded by black curly hair, came in sight from behind the chateau. As she caught sight of Monsieur Dalize, she ran towards him.