d informed
the police. Three days later she withdrew her complaint, and no more
was heard of the matter. As Marie and Vitalis were the only persons who
could have known her secret, the inference is obvious. When, later in
the year, Vitalis announced his intention of going to Paris on business,
his mistress expressed to him the hope that he would "have a good time"
with her bonds. Vitalis left for Paris. But there was now a distinct
understanding between Marie and himself. Vitalis had declared himself
her lover and asked her to marry him. The following letter, written to
him by Marie Boyer in the October of 1876, shows her attitude toward his
proposal:

"I thank you very sincerely for your letter, which has given me very
great pleasure, because it tells me that you are well. It sets my mind
at rest, for my feelings towards you are the same as ever. I don't say
they are those of love, for I don't know myself; I don't know what such
feelings are. But I feel a real affection for you which may well turn to
love. How should I not hold in affectionate remembrance one who has done
everything for me? But love does not come to order. So I can't and don't
wish to give any positive answer about our marriage--all depends on
circumstances. I don't want any promise from you, I want you to be as
free as I am. I am not fickle, you know me well enough for that. So
don't ask me to give you any promise. You may find my letter a little
cold. But I know too much of life to pledge myself lightly. I assure
you I think on it often. Sometimes I blush when I think what marriage
means."

Madame Boyer, displeased at the theft, had let her lover go without any
great reluctance. No sooner had he gone than she began to miss him. Life
seemed dull without him. Mother and daughter were united at least in
their common regret at the absence of the young bookseller. To vary the
monotony of existence, to find if possible a husband for her daughter,
Madame Boyer decided to leave Montpellier for Marseilles, and there
start some kind of business. The daughter, who foresaw greater amusement
and pleasure in the life of a large city, assented willingly. On October
6, 1876, they arrived at Marseilles, and soon after Madame bought at
a price considerably higher than their value, two shops adjoining one
another in the Rue de la Republique. One was a cheese shop, the other a
milliner's.

The mother arranged that she should look after the cheese shop, while
her