"My father," said Esperance, "has been as indulgent to me as always." "Thanks for these tidings," said the Duke. "Do you think he will receive me to-morrow, if I go to him?" "Oh! certainly, after the fête; a little while after, for first he wished to speak to Count Styvens," she said timidly. "Will you," the Duke asked Maurice, "make an appointment for me, and tell me as soon as you have an answer?" "With pleasure." The Duke bowed to the girls and withdrew. He took Maurice's hand, "I am happy, my friend, everything is going as I wish. I seem to hear laughter coming out of the shadows." And he disappeared. The young people waited for Albert a little while longer, but as he did not appear, Maurice advised the girls to retire, and he returned to sit down anxiously under the oak. He had been there hardly a quarter of an hour when he saw the Countess de Morgueil go by. She was alone and walked nervously. On the doorstep she stopped and looked back into the distance. He saw her tremble, then go in quickly. He stood up on his bench to see what she had been looking at, but he almost fell, and had to steady himself by holding on to a branch. Albert and the Duke were together. Albert had put his hand on the Duke's shoulder, and the Duke had removed that great hand. They were walking side by side towards the extensive terrace that commanded the countryside. "Oh! the wretched woman! What can she have said? And to be able to do nothing, nothing," he thought. He lighted a cigarette, waiting, he did not know for what. But he could not go back to his room. As he put his hand on the Duke's shoulder Albert had said, "I wish to talk to you." "Very well. I am listening." "I want you to answer me with perfect truth." "Your request would be offensive, Albert, if it were not for your emotion." "Is it true that you love Esperance Darbois?" "It is true." "Is it true that you want to marry her?" "It is true." "My God! My God!" muttered Albert, and he stopped for a minute. He was choking. The Duke felt a profound pity for this man who was suffering at this moment the most terrible pain. "Do you believe that she loves you?" Albert still went on. "I have answered you with perfect frankness concerning myself, but do not ask me to answer for Mlle. Darbois."