s slow calm
movements to a great piece of sky overhead where the dark green colour
was pierced here and there by newly-appearing stars, visible in the
waning light of the glorious day.

A few minutes later the landau turned into the Rue de Poitiers, a short
street, already in shadow, and stopped in front of the high iron gates
bearing the Padovani shield. All the shutters of the house were closed,
and there was a great chattering of birds in the garden. The Duchess
had gone for the summer to Mousseaux. Freydet stood hesitating, with the
huge envelope in his hand. He had expected to see the fair Antonia and
give a graphic account of the duel, perhaps even to slip in a reference
to his approaching candidature. Now he could not make up his mind
whether he should leave the letter, or deliver it himself a few days
hence, when he went back to Clos Jallanges. Eventually he decided
to leave it, and as he stepped back into the carriage he said, 'Poor
fellow! He impressed upon me that the letter was urgent.'

'Quite so,' said Vedrine, as the landau carried them along the quays,
now beginning to glimmer with rows of yellow lights, to the meeting
place arranged with D'Athis's seconds; 'quite so. I don't know what the
letter is about, but for him to take the trouble to write it at such a
moment, it must be something very smart, something extremely ingenious
and clever. Only there you are! Very urgent--and the Duchess has left.'

And pushing the end of his nose on one side between two fingers, he said
with the utmost gravity, 'That's what it is, you see.'

CHAPTER XI.

The sword-thrust which had so nearly cost Paul Astier his life made
peace for the time between his parents. In the emotion produced by such
a shock to his natural feelings, the father forgave all; and as for
three weeks Madame Astier remained with her patient, coming home only on
flying visits to fetch linen or change her dress, there was no risk of
the covert allusions and indirect reproaches, which will revive, even
after forgiveness and reconciliation, the disagreement of husband and
wife. And when Paul got well and went, at the urgent invitation of the
Duchess, to Mousseaux, the return of this truly academic household, if
not to warm affection, at least to the equable temperature of the 'cold
bed,' was finally secured by its establishment in the Institute, in
the official lodgings vacated by Loisillon, whose widow, having been
appointed manager of the sc