“Of course!” he said. “Any time! Not too long--I want to settle it before I die!” “Will it do when I have finished my visit to Madame Dimitrius?” she asked. “She wishes me to stay with her for some months--she likes my company----” “I should think she does!” interposed Chauvet. “So should I!” She laughed again. “You really are very nice!” she said. “You ought to have married long ago!” “That’s neither here nor there,” he answered. “I’m glad I didn’t--I might have had a fat wife and five hideous children, like your old lover--and my life wouldn’t have been worth a _sou_!” “Wouldn’t it?” She was quite playful by this time, and taking a knot of violets from her own dress, pinned them in his buttonhole, much to his delight. “Of course not! With a fat wife and five children what would have become of my work? I should never have done anything. As it is the world may have to thank me for a few useful discoveries,--though I dare say it will have to thank Féodor Dimitrius more.” Her heart gave a quick throb. “Do you think him very clever?” she asked. “Clever? Clever as the devil! There never was such a man for bold experiment! I wonder he hasn’t killed himself before now with his exploits in chemistry. However, let us keep to the point. As I understand it, you give me a little hope. You will not say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ till your time with Madame Dimitrius is expired--till your visit to the Château Fragonard is ended. Is that so?” She bent her head. “And may I walk on air--buoyed up by hope--till then?” She looked a little troubled. “Dear Professor, I cannot promise anything!” she said. “You see I am taken altogether by surprise--and--and gratitude--give me time to think!” “I will!” he said, kindly. “And meanwhile, we will keep our own confidence--and the subject shall be closed till you yourself reopen it. There! You can rely upon me. But think it all over well, reasonably, and clearly--a husband who would care much for you, ten thousand a year, a house in Paris and every comfort and luxury you could wish for is not an absolutely melancholy prospect! Bless you, my dear! And now I’ll lock up the ‘Eye of Rajuna’--it has looked upon us and has seen nothing of falsehood or treachery to warrant the shedding of blood!” He moved away from her to place the jewel in his safe, and as he did so, said: “I have an aqua-marine here which is the colour of a Sicilian sea in full summer--and I should like to give it to you now,--I intend it for you--but the hawk eye of Dimitrius would notice it if you wore it, and you would suffer the cross-examination of a Torquemada! However, you shall have it very soon--as soon as I can invent a little fable to give cover to its presentation. And,--let me see!----” here he turned round, smiling.--“Well, upon my word, you have made up the fire capitally! Quite bright and cheery!--and full of hope!” CHAPTER XV