you will take cold."

"So much the better; if I could but die!"

She seized his hand, kissed it passionately, and fled toward the house.
He returned more leisurely, and entered the conservatory with head
erect and smiling lips. His wife and Laroche were no longer there. The
crowd had grown thinner. Suzanne, leaning on her sister's arm, advanced
toward him. In a few moments, Rose, whom they teased about a certain
Count, turned upon her heel and left them.

Du Roy, finding himself alone with Suzanne, said in a caressing voice:
"Listen, my dear little one; do you really consider me a friend?"

"Why, yes, Bel-Ami."

"You have faith in me?"

"Perfect faith."

"Do you remember what I said to you a while since?"

"About what?"

"About your marriage, or rather the man you would marry."

"Yes."

"Well, will you promise me one thing?"

"Yes; what is it?"

"To consult me when you receive a proposal and to accept no one without
asking my advice."

"Yes, I will gladly."

"And it is to be a secret between us--not a word to your father or
mother."

"Not a word."

Rival approached them saying: "Mademoiselle, your father wants you in
the ballroom."

She said: "Come, Bel-Ami," but he refused, for he had decided to leave
at once, wishing to be alone with his thoughts. He went in search of
his wife, and found her drinking chocolate at the buffet with two
strange men. She introduced her husband without naming them.

In a short while, he asked: "Shall we go?"

"Whenever you like."

She took his arm and they passed through the almost deserted rooms.

Madeleine asked: "Where is Mme. Walter; I should like to bid her
good-bye."

"It is unnecessary. She would try to keep us in the ballroom, and I
have had enough."

"You are right."

On the way home they did not speak. But when they had entered their
room, Madeleine, without even taking off her veil, said to him with a
smile: "I have a surprise for you."

He growled ill-naturedly: "What is it?"

"Guess."

"I cannot make the effort."

"The day after to-morrow is the first of January."

"Yes."

"It is the season for New Year's gifts."

"Yes."

"Here is yours, which Laroche handed me just now." She gave him a small
black box which resembled a jewel-casket.

He opened it indifferently and saw the cross of the Legion of Honor. He
turned a trifle pale, then smiled, and said: "I should have preferred
ten millions. That did not cost him much."

She had