as only thinking aloud," he said. "The fact is, I
am attempting to decide upon an important question. To marry, or not to
marry. What do you say?"

"I know so little of life that I can give no advice," answered
Esperance, "and yet," he continued, "it seems to me that no happiness
can be so great as to spend your life in the companionship of one who
will share your joys and your sorrows."

"Then you advise me to marry?"

"If the woman is worthy of you."

Goutran had begun this conversation in a gay, familiar tone, but the
gravity of Esperance influenced him, and he continued more seriously, "I
wished to consult you, because I knew you to be a man who weighed such
matters seriously. You noticed a young lady, to-night--but what is the
matter?"

Esperance had started. "It is nothing, my foot slipped. And this young
lady?"

"The pretty blonde is the one I mean."

"Oh!" answered Esperance, with a sigh of relief, "I congratulate you,
most warmly. You love her?"

"I hardly know. I am attracted by her, I admire her beauty, the
brilliancy of her eyes, her figure and her manner. Is this love?"

"I have no experience in such matters, you know."

"But you have instinct, which is worth ten times as much as experience.
Carmen is an adorable creature, and when I am with her I can think of no
one else. Twenty times this evening the decisive words were on my lips."

"And why did you not speak?"

"Ah! that is as much of a mystery to me as to you. A strange reluctance
kept me back--almost a presentiment of evil. Do you know what I mean?"

"I understand that. I have felt the same thing at times."

"But to return to Carmen. Whenever I think of asking her to marry me, I
feel as if I were deliberately inviting misfortune."

"You are not well, perhaps?"

"Bless my soul! How reasonable you are! No, I am well, I am greatly in
love, and yet--"

"Upon my word!" said the Vicomte, "I can't see what you expect me to
say."

"I have not told you all, and I have an admission to make that is not
altogether agreeable. The truth is, I was so carried away by Carmen's
beauty, that--"

"You became engaged to her?"

"I kissed her, my friend, and I was not repulsed nor reproved. She
considered the kiss given to her fiance. And now, shall I marry her? I
tell you, that even when my lips met hers, I felt more sharply than ever
the presentiment of which I spoke. I know that after what has taken
place I ought to apply to her father for her