These considerations, aided very considerably, perhaps,--and why not, may we ask?--by the influence almost always exerted by a handsome, frank, and expressive face, appeased Herminie's wrath wonderfully. In fact, far from feeling the slightest indignation against Gerald now, she was really touched by the generous impulse to which he had yielded, and which he had just explained with such perfect frankness, and too honest and ingenuous herself to conceal her thoughts, she said to Gerald, with charming simplicity: "My embarrassment is very great, monsieur, for I must reproach myself for having entirely misinterpreted an act, the kindness of which I now appreciate. I can only beg you to forget the intemperance of my first remarks." "Permit me to say, on the contrary, that I shall never forget them, mademoiselle," replied Gerald, "for they will always remind me that there is one attribute which should be respected above all others in a woman,--her dignity." And bowing deferentially to Herminie, Gerald turned to leave the room. M. Bouffard had listened to the latter part of this conversation in open-mouthed wonder, it being just about as intelligible to him as if it had been carried on in Greek; but now checking Gerald, who had started towards the door, the ex-grocer, evidently with the idea that he was achieving a master-stroke, exclaimed: "One moment, my good sir, one moment. As mademoiselle is no longer offended with you, there is no reason why you shouldn't take those nice little rooms on the third floor I was telling you about,--a small hall, and two cozy rooms; one that will answer for a sitting-room, and the other for a bedroom--just the thing for a bachelor." On hearing this proposal, Herminie became very uneasy, for it would have been decidedly unpleasant to see Gerald installed in the same house. But the young duke promptly replied: "I have already told you that the rooms would not suit me, my dear sir." "Yes, because this young lady was offended with you, and it is very unpleasant to be on bad terms with one's fellow tenants. But now this young lady has forgiven you, there is no reason you shouldn't take those nice rooms." "I am even less inclined to take them now," replied Gerald, venturing a glance at Herminie. The young girl did not raise her eyes, but she blushed slightly, for she appreciated the delicacy of Gerald's refusal. "What!" exclaimed M. Bouffard, profoundly astonished; "now you have made up with mademoiselle, you are less inclined to take them than ever? Is it possible that you have noticed any objections to my house since you came back?" "It is not precisely that which deprives me of the pleasure of taking up my abode under your roof, my dear sir, but--" "Come, I'll let you have those rooms for two hundred and fifty francs, with a small cellar thrown in, if you want it." "Impossible, my dear sir, impossible." "Call it two hundred and forty, then, and say no more about it."