"There is no danger for me now," she said; "Jean Ficelle did what he was told to do, in order to earn money. Certainly it is very wrong to deceive a young girl, for, of course, he knew that it wasn't you who sent for me. But all messengers are not over particular. So much the worse for the dishonest ones! Despise that man, but don't quarrel with him; if you do, monsieur, I shall never tell you again what happens to me." "Very well; I will obey you." "That's right; and then, you must always be with me in the morning when I go to my work, and at night when I go home; be my protector, my guardian angel, and I am very sure that no one will try again to induce me to go into a restaurant." "To be always with you--that is my dearest wish; but sometimes----" "Your work--yes, I understand. But try to be always at liberty in the morning and evening. Isn't it enough to work all day?" "And if anyone should send word to you to go to a strange house, never consent." "Don't be afraid; I will remember the little restaurant. I wish you could have seen that man's face when he saw that I had escaped him. Oh! it would have made you laugh. Mon Dieu! it must be awfully late; we have been talking a long while." "It seems to me as if it had been only a minute." "Oh! don't think that it's a bore to me! far from it; but my aunt will want to know where I have been so late. Do you know what time it is, Monsieur Paul?" "I haven't any watch, mademoiselle." "Nor I; but we can look into the watchmaker's as we pass. Almost eleven, do you see? And I had so much more to say to you!" "And so had I!" "It must wait till to-morrow. Here I am at my door; adieu! till to-morrow!" "Till to-morrow!" "I'll try to remember all I had to say to you." The lovers parted, regretting that they had not time to talk more. It is always so while love lasts; for even if they have nothing more to say, they still have the pleasure of looking at each other. XX TWO RIVALS The clock had just struck eleven. Madame Baldimer, dressed with even more coquetry than usual, had been waiting a long while in her boudoir; impatience, uneasiness, and anger gleamed in her eyes. Again and again she rose, paced the floor excitedly, stopped to listen for the doorbell, then looked at her clock. For the third time she pulled a bellrope, and her maid appeared. "Has no one come, Rosa?" "No, madame." "It is inconceivable! I wrote him to come at ten, and now it is eleven! He is always so eager, so prompt! I cannot understand it. If he had triumphed, I could conceive of his failing to keep an appointment; but so long as a man is not our conqueror, he is our slave. Can it be that Albert is not like other men?" "Is it Monsieur Albert Vermoncey whom madame expects this evening?" "To be sure." "And if Monsieur le Comte Dahlborne should come also?" "Well! you will admit him." "Even if Monsieur Albert is here?" "Mon Dieu! yes; how stupid you are!"