lf by saying: "Perhaps it will not be for long."

The next morning Georges rose early and strolled down to the beach.
When he returned the servant said to him: "Monsieur has asked for you
two or three times. Will you go upstairs?"

He ascended the stairs. Forestier appeared to be in a chair; his wife,
reclining upon a couch, was reading. The invalid raised his head. Duroy
asked:

"Well, how are you? You look better this morning."

Forestier murmured: "Yes, I am better and stronger. Lunch as hastily as
you can with Madeleine, because we are going to take a drive."

When Mme. Forestier was alone with Duroy, she said to him: "You see,
to-day he thinks he is better! He is making plans for to-morrow. We are
now going to Gulf Juan to buy pottery for our rooms in Paris. He is
determined to go, but he cannot stand the jolting on the road."

The carriage arrived, Forestier descended the stairs, step by step,
supported by his servant. When he saw the closed landau, he wanted it
uncovered. His wife opposed him: "It is sheer madness! You will take
cold."

He persisted: "No, I am going to be better, I know it."

They first drove along a shady road and then took the road by the sea.
Forestier explained the different points of interest. Finally they
arrived at a pavilion over which were these words: "Gulf Juan Art
Pottery," and the carriage drew up at the door. Forestier wanted to buy
a vase to put on his bookcase. As he could not leave the carriage, they
brought the pieces to him one by one. It took him a long time to
choose, consulting his wife and Duroy: "You know it is for my study.
From my easy-chair I can see it constantly. I prefer the ancient
form--the Greek."

At length he made his choice. "I shall return to Paris in a few days,"
said he.

On their way home along the gulf a cool breeze suddenly sprang up, and
the invalid began to cough. At first it was nothing, only a slight
attack, but it grew worse and turned to a sort of hiccough--a rattle;
Forestier choked, and every time he tried to breathe he coughed
violently. Nothing quieted him. He had to be carried from the landau to
his room. The heat of the bed did not stop the attack, which lasted
until midnight. The first words the sick man uttered were to ask for a
barber, for he insisted on being shaved every morning. He rose to be
shaved, but was obliged to go to bed at once, and began to breathe so
painfully that Mme. Forestier in affright woke Duroy and asked hi