ris, for the obstinacy with which
it held out, prevailed in all the provinces that were in possession
of the enemy. He concluded in a lower tone, his allusion being to
Gambetta's inflammatory proclamations:

"No, no, we cannot give our suffrages to fools and madmen. The course
they advocate would end in general massacre. I, for my part, am for M.
Thiers, who would submit the questions at issue to the popular vote, and
as for their Republic, great heavens! let them have it if they want
it, while waiting for something better; it don't trouble me in the
slightest."

Captain de Gartlauben continued to nod his head very politely with an
approving air, murmuring:

"To be sure, to be sure--"

Henriette, whose feeling of distress had been increasing, could stand
their talk no longer. She could assign no definite reason for the
sensation of inquietude that possessed her; it was only a longing to get
away, and she rose and left the room quietly in quest of Gilberte, whose
absence had been so long protracted. On entering the bedroom, however,
she was greatly surprised to find her friend stretched on the lounge,
weeping bitterly and manifestly suffering from some extremely painful
emotion.

"Why, what is the matter? What has happened you?"

The young woman's tears flowed faster still and she would not speak,
manifesting a confusion that sent every drop of blood coursing from her
heart up to her face. At last, throwing herself into the arms that were
opened to receive her and concealing her face in the other's bosom, she
stammered:

"Oh, darling if you but knew. I shall never dare to tell you--and yet I
have no one but you, you alone perhaps can tell me what is best to do."
A shiver passed through her frame, her voice was scarcely audible. "I
was with Edmond--and then--and then Madame Delaherche came into the room
and caught me--"

"Caught you! What do you mean?"

"Yes, we were here in the room; he was holding me in his arms and
kissing me--" And clasping Henriette convulsively in her trembling arms
she told her all. "Oh, my darling, don't judge me severely; I could not
bear it! I know I promised you it should never happen again, but you
have seen Edmond, you know how brave he is, how handsome! And think once
of the poor young man, wounded, ill, with no one to give him a mother's
care! And then he has never had the enjoyments that wealth affords; his
family have pinched themselves to give him an education. I could not be