The next morning, Fougas, laden down like a miller's ass with bon-bons, presented himself at M. Langevin's. In order to make himself welcome to his two grandchildren, he had skimmed the shop of the celebrated Lebegue--the Boissier of Nancy. The servant who opened the door for him asked if he were the gentleman her master expected. "Good!" said he; "my letter has come?" "Yes, sir; yesterday morning. And your baggage?" "I left it at the hotel." "Monsieur will not be satisfied at that. Your room is ready, up stairs." "Thanks! thanks! thanks! Take this hundred franc note for the good news." "Oh, monsieur! it was not worth so much." "But where is he? I want to see him--to embrace him--to tell him----" "He's dressing, monsieur; and so is madame." "And the children--my dear grandchildren?" "If you want to see them, they're right here, in the dining room." "If I want to! Open the door right away!" He discovered that the little boy resembled him, and was overjoyed to see him in the dress of an artillerist playing with a sabre. His pockets were soon emptied on the floor; and the two children, at the sight of so many good things, hung about his neck. "O philosophers!" cried the Colonel, "do you dare to deny the existence of the voice of Nature?" A pretty little lady (all the young women are pretty in Nancy) ran in at the joyous cries of the little brood. "My daughter-in-law!" cried Fougas, opening his arms. The lady of the house modestly recoiled, and said, with a slight smile: "You are mistaken, sir; I am not your daughter-in-law;[9] I am Madame Langevin." "What a fool I am!" thought the Colonel. "Here I was going to tell our family secrets before these children. Mind your manners, Fougas! You are in fine society, where the ardor of the sweetest sentiments is hidden under the icy mask of indifference." "Be seated," said Mme. Langevin. "I hope that you have had a pleasant journey?" "Yes, madame. Only steam seemed too slow for me!" "I did not know that you were in such a hurry to get here." "You did not, then, appreciate that I was fairly burning to be with you?" "I am glad to hear it; it is a proof that Reason and Family Affection have made themselves heard at last." "Was it my fault that family ties did not speak effectually sooner?" "Well, after all, the main thing is that you have listened to them. We will exert ourselves to prevent your finding Nancy uninteresting." "How could I, since I am to live with you?" "Thank you! Our house will be yours. Try to imagine yourself entirely at home." "In imagination, and affection too, madame." "And you'll not think of Paris again?" "Paris!---- I don't care any more for it than I do for doomsday!" "I forewarn you that people are not in the habit of fighting duels here." "What? You know already----" "We know all about it, even to the history of that famous supper with those rather volatile ladies."