r as fresh as a lawn after a shower. But still she
did not give way, to the great annoyance of Madame Astier, who had no
conception of the real cause of her obduracy.

The truth was that frequent meetings to criticise the scheme of the
mausoleum, much touching of hands and mingling of locks over the plans
and sketches of cells and sepulchral figures, had created between Paul
and Colette a fellow feeling which had gradually grown more and more
tender, until one day Paul Astier detected in Colette's eyes as she
looked at him an expression that almost confessed her liking. There rose
before him as a possibility the miraculous vision of Colette de Rosen
bringing him her million as a marriage gift. That might be in a short
time, after a preliminary trial of patience, a regularly conducted
beleaguering of the fortress. In the first place it was most important
to-betray no hint to 'mamma,' who, though very cunning and subtle, was
likely to fail through excess of zeal, especially when the interests of
her Paul were at stake. She would spoil all the chances in her eagerness
to hasten the successful issue. So Paul concealed his plans from Madame
Astier, in entire ignorance that she was running a countermine in the
same line as his. He acted on his own account with great deliberation.
The Princess was attracted by his youth and fashion, his brightness and
his witty irony, from which he carefully took the venom. He knew that
women, like children and the mob, and all impulsive and untutored
beings, hate a tone of sarcasm, which puts them out, and which they
perceive by instinct to be hostile to the dreams of enthusiasm and
romance.

On this spring morning it was with feelings of more confidence than
usual that young Astier reached the house. This was the first time that
he had been asked to breakfast at the Rosen mansion; the reason alleged
was a visit which they were to make together to the cemetery, in order
to inspect the works on the spot. With an unexpressed understanding they
had fixed on a Wednesday, the day when Madame Astier was 'at home,' so
as not to have her as a third in the party. With this thought in his
mind the young man, self-controlled as he was, let fall as he crossed
the threshold a careless glance which took in the large courtyard and
magnificent offices almost as if he were entering on the possession of
them. His spirits fell as he passed through the ante-room, where the
footmen and lacqueys in deep mourning