Another turn round the monument; then his eye fell upon Madeline, who still retained her seat close by. In a moment the whole man seemed to change. He smiled, tossed away his cigar, and advanced gallantly towards her. He raised his hat, then cordially extended his right hand. ‘Good morning,’ he exclaimed in French; ‘charmed to see you abroad so early! May I so far presume upon your friendship as to walk with you a very little way around the park?’ Madeline rose in silence, took no notice of his extended hand, and walked along by his side. She looked cold, haughty, and defiant; but in truth her heart was sinking terribly. As for Gavrolles, if he was a little disconcerted at first, he quickly regained his composure. As he drew back his rejected hand he smiled, and the smile seemed to say: ‘It is your turn now, Madame! _Eh bien_, enjoy your pride to the full; my time is at hand, and I mean to take advantage of it.’ ‘_Parbleu!_ he exclaimed, ‘how the place is deserted; and yet to my mind the morning is the pleasantest time of the day. See how fresh the flowers and the grass!--and the breeze is still sweet and cool with last night’s dew! It seems to bring new life to a man. Ah, yes; it is charming!’ He expanded his chest, he raised his hat to let the breeze play with his flowing locks of hair, then he gave a sidelong glance at Madeline, and met her eyes. She paused, and for the first time that day addressed him-- ‘I cannot stay,’ she said quietly. ‘Why have you forced me to meet you here to-day?’ He shrugged his shoulders, he raised his hand in polite protestation. ‘Forced you!’ he exclaimed. ‘Ah, but you use hard words, my dear Madeline. I employ force to no one; certainly not to one so esteemed. If your memory is good, you must know that I merely asked an interview. You were gracious enough not only to grant it, but to name also our place of meeting.’ She looked him steadily in the face, and her lip curled contemptuously. ‘Will you oblige me by answering my question?’ Again he smiled, but while he did so his face was by no means pleasant to see. ‘I will make my best endeavours, madame.’ ‘First, tell me this: when you went to that house last night were you certain of meeting me there?’ ‘I most certainly hoped to have the pleasure of meeting you. I have lived in this strange world long enough to know that nothing is certain.’ ‘Did you know that I had married an honourable man?’ ‘I knew that; yes.’ ‘And yet you made up your mind to thrust yourself upon me?’ He bowed profoundly. ‘My dear Madeline, your penetration is wonderful. I perceive you are one of the few beings in this stupid world fully capable of understanding me.’ ‘Unfortunately for myself,’ Madeline continued, ‘I understand you sufficiently to know that you would not plan this meeting if there was no purpose to be obtained by it. What new injury do you wish to do me _now?_’ He gazed at her flushed face and muttered, ‘_Ma foi_, but she is charming!’ Then he added, aloud--