Auguste was silent for some time, and Bertrand, surprised to see him so pensive, feared that he had offended him, and dared not open his mouth. "I believe that you're right, Bertrand," said Auguste at last. "Really, lieutenant--you agree with me?" "Yes, I feel that a genuine passion, a sincere attachment, must make a man happier than all these momentary fancies. But is it my fault that it is so difficult to find a frank and sincere heart in society?" "No, certainly not; it isn't your fault." "Or that coquetry and falsity take the place nowadays of love and friendship?" "Such substitutes shouldn't be allowed!" "Ah! my dear Bertrand, we should be too fortunate if all women were faithful." "True, we should be too fortunate." "And yet the whole business of living would be intolerably monotonous then." "Ah! do you think it would injure business?" "You see, Bertrand, we must take the world as it is." "We have no help for that." "But when I have found a woman who will love me for myself, who will be incapable of deceiving me, who will try to please nobody but myself alone, why then----" "Then, lieutenant?" "Oh, Bertrand! such a pleasant memory! And it's so long since I thought of her!" "Who, lieutenant?" "Lovely Denise, the pretty little milkmaid of Montfermeil. Ah! she is virtuous, I'll swear to that." "That would be taking a big risk; you hardly know her, and you haven't seen her for two months." "Do you know why I haven't seen her, Bertrand?" "Because you forgot her." "No, it isn't that alone. I have had another reason; you'll laugh, but it is that I am afraid of becoming too fond of that girl." "In that case, it's very delicate on your part." "Yes, of course it is; for why should I try to seduce that child, who is virtuous and innocent, and who is living a tranquil life in her village?" "That would be very wrong, monsieur; there's girls enough willing to be seduced in Paris, without going into the suburbs to look for others." "Saddle my horse, Bertrand, and saddle the cabriolet horse for yourself; make haste." "Why, where are we going, monsieur?" "To Montfermeil, to see Denise." "What! when you just said----" "I have reflected that there's no danger for her, because she doesn't love me." "Do you think not, monsieur?" "She told me so many times. But I want to see Coco, my little protégé, poor child. I really long to hug the little fellow. You will see how pretty he is, Bertrand--and such vile relations!--Put some money in your pocket, Bertrand." "Oh! as much as you choose, lieutenant, to relieve the unfortunate, to help an orphan; one never regrets such things, and it gives one a hundred times more pleasure than paying for the brunette's hangings and the blonde's shawls."