"And also with M. Beloiseau?" asked Melanie, with a lurking smile, as she sat down so fondly close to madame as to leave both her small hands in one of her friend's. "Ah, now," madame exclaimed, "there is nothing in that! You ought to be rijoice' if there was." The new look warmed in Melanie's eyes. "I'll be very glad if that time ever comes," she said. "Then you billieve in the second love?" "Ah, in a case like that! Indeed, yes. In their first love they both were happy; the second would be in praise of the first." "And to separate them there is only the street," Castanado suggested, "and Royal Street, street of their birth and chilehood, and so narrow, it have the effect to join, not separate. But!"--he made a wary motion--"kip quite, eize they will not go into the net, those old bird', hah!" There was a smiling silence, and then--"Well," madame said, "they are all to stop here as they riturn. Waiting here, you'll see them all." "Yes, and beside', I have some good news for you; news anyhow to me." The pair smiled brightly: "You 'ave another letter from Dubroca!" "Yes. He's again wounded and in hospital." "Oh-h, terrible! tha'z to you good news?" "Yes. Look, monsieur; he has, at the front, the chance to be hit so many times. If he's hit and only wounded his chances to be hit again are made one less, eh? And while he's in hospital they are again two or three less. Shall we not be glad for that? And moreover, how he got his wound, that is better. He got that taking, by himself, nine Boches! And still the best news is what he writes about his friend Castanado." "Ah, Melanie! And you hold that back till now? And you know we are without news of him sinze a month! He's promote'? He's decorate'?" "He's found a treasure. I think maybe you'll get his letter to-morrow. Me, I got mine soon; passing the post-office I went in and asked." "But how, he found a treasure? and what sort?" "He just happened to dig it up, in a cellar, in Rheims. He's betrothed.' "Melanie! What are you saying?" "What he says. And that's all he says. I hope you'll hear all about that to-morrow." "Oh, any'ow tha'z the bes' of news!" Castanado said, kissing his wife's hand and each temple. "Doubtlezz he's find some lovely orphan of that hideouz war; we can trus' his good sense, our son. But, Melanie, he muz' have been sick, away from the front, to make that courtship." "I do not know. Everything happens terribly fast these days. I hope you'll hear all about that to-morrow." Castanado playfully lifted a finger: "Melanie, how is that, you pass that poss-office, when it is up-town, while you--?" The question hung unfinished--maybe because Melanie turned so red, maybe because the door-bell rang again.