little mare, how well she trots! what
good action she has! You have not seen her before? What do you think
I paid for her? Four hundred francs. I discovered her a fortnight ago,
between the shafts of a market gardener's cart. She is a treasure. I
assure you she can do sixteen miles an hour, and keep one's hands full
all the time. Just see how she pulls. Come, tot-tot-tot! You are not in
a hurry, Monsieur l'Abbe, I hope. Let us return through the wood; the
fresh air will do you good. Oh! Monsieur l'Abbe, if you only knew what
a regard I have for you, and respect, too. I did not talk too much
nonsense before you just now, did I? I should be so sorry--"

"No, my child, I heard nothing."

"Well, we will take the longest way round."

After having turned to the left in the wood, Paul resumed his
communications.

"I was saying, Monsieur l'Abbe," he went on, "that you are wrong to
take things so seriously. Shall I tell you what I think? This is a very
fortunate affair."

"Very fortunate?"

"Yes, very fortunate. I would rather see the Scotts at Longueval
than the Gallards. Did you not hear Monsieur de Larnac reproach these
Americans with spending their money foolishly. It is never foolish to
spend money. The folly lies in keeping it. Your poor for I am perfectly
sure that it is your poor of whom you are thinking--your poor have made
a good thing of it to-day. That is my opinion. The religion? Well,
they will not go to mass, and that will be a grief to you, that is only
natural; but they will send you money, plenty of money, and you will
take it, and you will be quite right in doing so. You will see that
you will not say no. There will be gold raining over the whole place;
a movement, a bustle, carriages with four horses, postilions, powdered
footmen, paper chases, hunting parties, balls, fireworks, and here in
this very spot I shall perhaps find Paris again before long. I shall
see once more the two riders, and the two little grooms of whom I was
speaking just now. If you only knew how well those two sisters look on
horseback! One morning I went right round the Bois de Boulogne behind
them; I fancy I can see them still. They had high hats, and little black
veils drawn very tightly over their faces, and long riding-habits made
in the princess form, with a single seam right down the back; and
a woman must be awfully well made to wear a riding-habit like that,
because you see, Monsieur l'Abbe, with a habit of that cut no dec