ost agitated.

_It is here that this morning_--That was all, and it said all. A
delightful evening. No more rain, no more dust. Already there was the
soft, balmy air of the South. The moon lit that idyl at full speed.
Spring-time everywhere, in the sky and in the hearts.

"She loves me," he said to himself.

"He adores me," she said to herself.

How right they were to give themselves up thus, without a struggle,
without resistance, to the inclination which carried them, quite
naturally, towards each other. There had been between them, from the
first word, so perfect, so complete a community of tastes, ideas, and
sentiments. They were so well made, this little puppet and this little
doll, to roll off, both together, gloriously in the "Chamblard coupe,"
so well matched to walk in the world, accomplishing mechanically,
automatically, at the right hour, in the prescribed costume, everywhere
where it was correct to take pleasure, all the functions of fashionable
life, and all the rituals of worldly worship.

They arrive in the parlor-car. The shades are drawn over the lamps;
travellers are stiff, drowsy, and asleep in the big red arm-chairs.

"Change places," Raoul whispers to Maurice; "sit beside her. I am going
to sit by the mother; I must speak to her."

Maurice lent himself to this manoeuvre with perfect docility, Martha
did not understand it. Why did he abandon her? Why was he talking to her
mother, and so low, so low that she couldn't hear? What was he saying?
What was he saying?

This is what he said between Montelimar, 8.35, and Pierrelatte, 8.55:

"Listen to me, madam, listen to me. I am an honest man; I wish, I
ought, to let you know the situation, the entire situation. Let us first
settle an important point. My father knows M. Derame."

"Yes, yes, I know."

"Another more important point. Let us mention the essential things
first. My father is very rich."

"I know, I know that too."

"Good, then, very good. I continue. I left Paris this morning, and I
have here in my pocket a ticket for cabin No. 27 on the _Traonaddy_,
which leaves to-morrow at four o'clock from the Bay of Joliette for
Suez, Aden, Colombo, and Singapore, and I shall go on board to-morrow at
four o'clock if you don't let me hope to become your son-in-law."

"Sir!"

"Don't move, madam, don't move. Mlle. Martha is pretending to sleep, but
she isn't sleeping; she is watching us, and I haven't said all yet. I am
but just beginning. Yo