never feel the want of anything. Our friends received me yesterday
with open arms; and as for enemies we have none. The prettiest girl in
Fontainebleau is willing to become my wife; I can marry her in less than
three weeks if I see fit to hurry things a little. Clementine did not
meet me as if I were of no interest to her; far from it. Her lovely eyes
smiled upon me last night with the most tender regard. It is true that
she wept at the end, that's too certain. That is my only vexation, my
only anxiety, the sole cause of that foolish dream I had last night. She
did weep, but why? Because I was beast enough to regale her with a
lecture, and that, too, about a mummy. All right! I'll have the mummy
buried; I'll hold back my dissertations, and nothing else in the world
will come to disturb our happiness."

He went down stairs, humming an air from the _Nozze_. M. and Mme.
Renault, who were not accustomed to going to bed after midnight, were
still asleep. On going into the laboratory, he saw that the triple box
of the Colonel was closed. Gothon had placed a little wooden cross and a
sprig of consecrated box on the cover. "We may as well begin masses for
his soul," he murmured between his teeth, with a smile that might have
been a little sceptical. At the same time he noticed that Clementine, in
her agitation, had forgotten the presents he had brought her. He made a
bundle of them, looked at his watch, and concluded that there would be
no indiscretion in straining a point to go to Mlle. Sambucco's.

The much-to-be-respected aunt was an early riser, as they generally are
in the rural districts, and had, in fact, already gone out to church,
and Clementine was gardening near the house. She ran to her lover
without thinking of throwing down the little rake she held in her hand,
and with the sweetest smile in the world, held up her pretty rosy cheeks
which were a little moist and flushed by the pleasant warmth of pleasure
and exercise.

"Aren't you put out with me?" said she. "I was very ridiculous last
night. My aunt has scolded me in the bargain. And I forgot to take the
pretty things you brought me from among the savages! But it was not
from lack of appreciation. I am so happy to see that you have always
thought of me as I have thought of you! I could have sent for them
to-day, but I am pleasantly anticipated. My heart told me that you would
come yourself."

"Your heart knew me, dear Clementine."

"It would be very unfortun