ep and a bright eye. He was passing the
Chinese Baths, and appeared to have come from the direction of the Porte
Saint-Martin, and to be going towards the Madeleine. "Ah," said Morcerf,
"there goes a happy man!" And it so happened Albert was not mistaken in
his opinion.

Chapter 79. The Lemonade.

Morrel was, in fact, very happy. M. Noirtier had just sent for him, and
he was in such haste to know the reason of his doing so that he had not
stopped to take a cab, placing infinitely more dependence on his own two
legs than on the four legs of a cab-horse. He had therefore set off at
a furious rate from the Rue Meslay, and was hastening with rapid strides
in the direction of the Faubourg Saint-Honore. Morrel advanced with
a firm, manly tread, and poor Barrois followed him as he best might.
Morrel was only thirty-one, Barrois was sixty years of age; Morrel was
deeply in love, and Barrois was dying with heat and exertion. These
two men, thus opposed in age and interests, resembled two parts of
a triangle, presenting the extremes of separation, yet nevertheless
possessing their point of union. This point of union was Noirtier, and
it was he who had just sent for Morrel, with the request that the latter
would lose no time in coming to him--a command which Morrel obeyed to
the letter, to the great discomfiture of Barrois. On arriving at the
house, Morrel was not even out of breath, for love lends wings to our
desires; but Barrois, who had long forgotten what it was to love, was
sorely fatigued by the expedition he had been constrained to use.

The old servant introduced Morrel by a private entrance, closed the door
of the study, and soon the rustling of a dress announced the arrival of
Valentine. She looked marvellously beautiful in her deep mourning dress,
and Morrel experienced such intense delight in gazing upon her that he
felt as if he could almost have dispensed with the conversation of her
grandfather. But the easy-chair of the old man was heard rolling
along the floor, and he soon made his appearance in the room. Noirtier
acknowledged by a look of extreme kindness and benevolence the thanks
which Morrel lavished on him for his timely intervention on behalf
of Valentine and himself--an intervention which had saved them from
despair. Morrel then cast on the invalid an interrogative look as to the
new favor which he designed to bestow on him. Valentine was sitting at
a little distance from them, timidly awaiting the m