He
looked at me with a bewildered expression, not knowing what to believe.
Then he went out to confer with the colonel.

"I heard that a kind of jury of the mothers had been formed, to which
were submitted the different phases of the situation.

"He came back an hour later, sat down with the dignity of a judge and
began: 'No matter what may be the situation, I can see only one way out
of it for you; it is to marry Mademoiselle Dumoulin.'

"I bounded out of the chair, crying: 'Never! never!'

"Gravely he asked: 'Well, what do you expect to do?'

"I answered simply: 'Why--leave as soon as my shoes are returned to me.'

"My uncle continued: 'Please do not jest. The colonel has decided to blow
your brains out as soon as he sees you. And you may be sure that he does
not threaten idly. I spoke of a duel and he answered: "No, I tell you
that I will blow his brains out."'

"'Let us now examine the question from another point of view. Either you
have misbehaved yourself--and then so much the worse for you, my
boy; one should not go near a young girl--or else, being drunk, as
you say, you made a mistake in the room. In this case, it's even worse
for you. You shouldn't get yourself into such foolish situations.
Whatever you may say, the poor girl's reputation is lost, for a
drunkard's excuses are never believed. The only real victim in the
matter is the girl. Think it over.'

"He went away, while I cried after him: 'Say what you will, I'll not
marry her!'

"I stayed alone for another hour. Then my aunt came. She was crying. She
used every argument. No one believed my story. They could not imagine
that this young girl could have forgotten to lock her door in a house
full of company. The colonel had struck her. She had been crying the
whole morning. It was a terrible and unforgettable scandal. And my good
aunt added: 'Ask for her hand, anyhow. We may, perhaps, find some way out
of it when we are drawing up the papers.'

"This prospect relieved me. And I agreed to write my proposal. An hour
later I left for Paris. The following day I was informed that I had been
accepted.

"Then, in three weeks, before I had been able to find any excuse, the
banns were published, the announcement sent out, the contract signed, and
one Monday morning I found myself in a church, beside a weeping young
girl, after telling the magistrate that I consented to take her as my
companion--for better, for worse.

"I had not seen her since my adv