h Claude, for mind has immense seductions
for persons who are all heart.

"I shouldn't be surprised to see the Marquise de Rochefide and Conti,
who, of course, will accompany her, at the landing-place to-morrow,"
said Claude Vignon, as the evening ended. "When I was at Croisic this
afternoon, the fishermen were saying that they had seen a little vessel,
Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian, in the offing."

This speech brought a flush to the cheeks of the impassible Camille.

Again Madame du Guenic sat up till one o'clock that night, waiting for
her son, unable to imagine why he should stay so late if Mademoiselle
des Touches did not love him.

"He must be in their way," said this adorable mother. "What were you
talking about?" she asked, when at last he came in.

"Oh, mother, I have never before spent such a delightful evening. Genius
is a great, a sublime thing! Why didn't you give me genius? With genius
we can make our lives, we can choose among all women the woman to love,
and she must be ours."

"How handsome you are, my Calyste!"

"Claude Vignon is handsome. Men of genius have luminous foreheads
and eyes, through which the lightnings flash--but I, alas! I know
nothing--only to love."

"They say that suffices, my angel," she said, kissing him on the
forehead.

"Do you believe it?"

"They say so, but I have never known it."

Calyste kissed his mother's hand as if it was a sacred thing.

"I will love you for all those that would have adored you," he said.

"Dear child! perhaps it is a little bit your duty to do so, for you
inherit my nature. But, Calyste, do not be unwise, imprudent; try to
love only noble women, if love you must."

IX. A FIRST MEETING

What young man full of abounding but restrained life and emotion would
not have had the glorious idea of going to Croisic to see Madame de
Rochefide land, and examine her incognito? Calyste greatly surprised his
father and mother by going off in the morning without waiting for the
mid-day breakfast. Heaven knows with what agility the young Breton's
feet sped along. Some unknown vigor seemed lent to him; he walked on
air, gliding along by the walls of Les Touches that he might not be seen
from the house. The adorable boy was ashamed of his ardor, and afraid of
being laughed at; Felicite and Vignon were so perspicacious! besides, in
such cases young fellows fancy that their foreheads are transparent.

He reached the shore, strengthened by a stone emba