ght, mademoiselle," said Malicorne, bowing.

Montalais lifted up her little doubled fist. "Monster!" said she; "oh!
that I were a man!"

"What would you do to me?"

"I would strangle you."

"Ah! very well, then," said Malicorne; "I believe I begin to desire
something."

"And what do you desire, Monsieur Demon? That I should lose my soul from
anger?"

Malicorne was rolling his hat respectfully between his fingers; but, all
at once, he let fall his hat, seized the young girl by the shoulders,
pulled her towards him, and sealed her mouth with two lips that were
very warm, for a man pretending to so much indifference. Aure would have
cried out, but the cry was stifled in his kiss. Nervous and, apparently,
angry, the young girl pushed Malicorne against the wall.

"Good!" said Malicorne, philosophically, "that's enough for six weeks.
Adieu, mademoiselle, accept my very humble salutation." And he made
three steps towards the door.

"Well! no,--you shall not go!" cried Montalais, stamping with her little
foot. "Stay where you are! I order you!"

"You order me?"

"Yes; am I not mistress?"

"Of my heart and soul, without doubt."

"A pretty property! _ma foi!_ The soul is silly and the heart dry."

"Beware, Montalais, I know you," said Malicorne; "you are going to fall
in love with your humble servant."

"Well, yes!" said she, hanging round his neck with childish indolence,
rather than with loving abandonment. "Well, yes! for I must thank you at
least."

"And for what?"

"For the commission; is it not my whole future?"

"And mine."

Montalais looked at him.

"It is frightful," said she, "that one can never guess whether you are
speaking seriously or not."

"I cannot speak more seriously. I was going to Paris,--you are going
there,--we are going there."

"And so it was for that motive only you have served me; selfish fellow!"

"What would you have me say, Aure? I cannot live without you."

"Well! in truth, it is just so with me; you are, nevertheless, it must
be confessed, a very bad-hearted young man."

"Aure, my dear Aure, take care! if you take to calling me names again,
you know the effect they produce upon me, and I shall adore you." And so
saying, Malicorne drew the young girl a second time towards him. But at
that instant a step resounded on the staircase. The young people were so
close, that they would have been surprised in the arms of each other, if
Montalais had not violently pushed Malic