"M'sieur remembers that I am a widow--" "With one child, yes." "M'sieur, pardon me; I have been thinking much, and I have been thinking of my little girl. What would M'sieur want me to do?" The Comte reflected, and said generously: "I do not adopt her; but, if you like, she shall live here." "Then, M'sieur," said Francine, dropping on her knees, "I thank M'sieur very much. M'sieur is too kind, too good--" "So, it is decided then," said the Comte, rising joyfully. "Oh, yes, M'sieur." "Then we shall go to-morrow," said the Comte. "It is my manner; I like to do things instantly. Stand up, I beg you, Madame." "To-morrow, M'sieur?" "Yes, Madame. Have you any objections?" "Oh, no, M'sieur le Comte; on the contrary," said Francine, blushing with pleasure at the twice-repeated "Madame." Then she added carefully: "M'sieur is quite right; it would be better. People talk so." IV The return of the married couple was the sensation of Keragouil, for the Comte de Bonzag, after the fashion of his ancestors, had placed his bride behind him on the broad back of Quatre Diables, who proceeded with unaltered equanimity. Along the journey the peasants, who held the Comte in loyal terror, greeted the procession with a respectful silence, congregating in the road to stare and chatter only when the amiable Quatre Diables had disappeared in the distance. Disdaining to notice the commotion he produced, the Comte headed straight for the courtyard, where Quatre Diables, recognizing the foot block, dropped his head and began to crop the grass. The new Comtesse, fatigued by the novel position, started gratefully to descend by the most natural way, that is, by slipping easily over the rear anatomy of the good-natured Quatre Diables. But the Comte, feeling the commotion behind, stopped her with a word, and, flinging his left leg over the neck of his charger, descended gracefully to the block, where, bowing profoundly, he said in gallant style: "Madame, permit me to offer you my hand." The Comtesse, with the best intentions in the world, had considerable difficulty in executing the movement by which her husband had extricated himself. Luckily, the Comte received her without yielding ground, drew her hand under his arm, and escorted her ceremoniously into the château, while Quatre Diables, liberated from the unusual burden, rolled gratefully to earth, and scratched his back against the cobblestones. "Madame, be so kind as to enter your home." With studied elegance, the Comte put his hat to his breast, or thereabout, and bowed as he held open the door. "Oh, M'sieur le Comte; after you," said Francine, in confusion. "Pass, Madame, and enter the dining-room. We have certain ceremonies to observe."