ut the old accountant, luckily, has not the same ideas of grandeur that
his wife possessed. They love each other; they are young, healthy, and
good-looking--qualities that in themselves constitute fine dowries,
without involving any heavy registration fees at the notary's. The new
household will be installed on the floor above. The photography will
be continued, unless _Revolt_ should produce enormous receipts. (The
Visionary may be trusted to see to that.) In any case, the father will
still remain near them; he has a good place at his stockbroker's office,
some expert business in the courts; provided that the little ship
continue to sail in deep enough water, all will go well, with the aid of
wave, wind, and star.

Only one question preoccupies M. Joyeuse: "Will Andre's parents consent
to this marriage? How will Dr. Jenkins, so rich, so celebrated, take
it?"

"Let us not speak of that man," said Andre, turning pale; "he is a
wretch to whom I owe nothing--who is nothing to me."

He stops, embarrassed by this explosion of anger, which he was unable to
restrain and cannot explain, and goes on more gently:

"My mother, who comes to see me sometimes in spite of the prohibition
laid upon her, was the first to be told of our plans. She already loves
Mlle. Elise as her daughter. You will see, mademoiselle, how good she
is, and how beautiful and charming. What a misfortune that she belongs
to such a wicked man, who tyrannizes over her, and tortures her even to
the point of forbidding her to utter her son's name."

Poor Maranne heaves a sign that speaks volumes on the great grief which
he hides in the depths of his heart. But what sadness would not have
been vanquished in presence of that dear face lighted up with its fair
curls and the radiant perspective of the future? These serious questions
having been settled, they are able to open the door and recall the two
exiles. In order to avoid filling their little heads with thoughts above
their age, it has been agreed to say nothing about the prodigious event,
to tell them nothing except that they have all to make haste and dress,
breakfast still more quickly, so as to be able to spend the afternoon in
the Bois, where Maranne will read his play to them, before they go on to
Suresnes to have dinner at Kontzen's: a whole programme of delights in
honour of the acceptance of _Revolt_, and of another piece of good news
which they will hear later.

"Ah, really--what is it, then?" a