Montmartre. Frankly, I cannot see what possible
connection there can be between the Christ and your Count Larinski; and,
pray, do not let us enter into a theological discussion; you know it is
wholly out of my line. Religion seems to me an excellent thing, a most
useful thing, and I freely accept Christianity, minus the romantic side,
with which I have no time to occupy myself. You will at least grant
me that, if there are true miracles, there are also false ones. How
distinguish them?"

"It is the heart that must decide," said she.

"Oh! the infallibility of the heart!" exclaimed he. "There never was
council yet that voted that."

There was a pause, after which M. Moriaz resumed: "And so, my dear, you
are persuaded that M. Larinski is still free, and that Mme. de Lorcy
lied?"

"Not at all; if she had lied, she would not have betrayed herself so
naively just now. I accuse her of deceiving herself, or rather of having
wished to deceive herself. Do you know what you are going to do--I mean
this evening--after dinner? You are going to order up the carriage, and
you are going--"

"To Paris, Rue Mont-Thabor!" he exclaimed, bounding up in his seat.
"Very good, I will put on a dress-coat, and I will say to Count
Larinski: 'My dear monsieur, I come to demand your hand for my daughter,
who adores you. Certain malicious tongues assert that you are no longer
free; I do not believe them; besides, this would be a mere bagatelle.'
On the whole, I believe you would do better to put it down in writing
for me; left to myself I never will get through with it; out of my
professor's chair I have considerable difficulty in finding words!"

"Dear me, how hasty you are! Who suggests such a thing? Abbe Miollens is
our friend; he is a worthy man, whose testimony would be reliable."

"Now this is something like! I see what you mean. At this rate you will
not need to prepare my harangue. Here we have an acceptable idea, a
possible interview. This evening, after my dinner, I shall go see Abbe
Miollens; but it is clearly understood, I presume, that if he confirms
the sentence--"

"I shall not ask for its repeal, and I promise you that I will be
courageous beyond anything that you can imagine; you shall not so much
as suspect that I even regret my chimera. But, as a fair exchange, you
on your side must make me a promise. If Abbe Miollens--"

"You know as well as I that you are of age."

"I know as well as you that I never will be content