oman, with a real, deep, constant love.

He murmured, "I love you," and then inquired, "Is your husband quite
well?"

"Yes, very well. He has been spending a month at home, and was off again
the day before yesterday."

Du Roy could not help laughing. "How lucky," said he.

She replied simply: "Yes, it is very lucky. But, all the same, he is not
troublesome when he is here. You know that."

"That is true. Besides, he is a very nice fellow."

"And you," she asked, "how do you like your new life?"

"Not much one way or the other. My wife is a companion, a partner."

"Nothing more?"

"Nothing more. As to the heart--"

"I understand. She is pretty, though."

"Yes, but I do not put myself out about her."

He drew closer to Clotilde, and whispered. "When shall we see one
another again?"

"To-morrow, if you like."

"Yes, to-morrow at two o'clock."

"Two o'clock."

He rose to take leave, and then stammered, with some embarrassment: "You
know I shall take on the rooms in the Rue de Constantinople myself. I
mean it. A nice thing for the rent to be paid by you."

It was she who kissed his hands adoringly, murmuring: "Do as you like.
It is enough for me to have kept them for us to meet again there."

Du Roy went away, his soul filled with satisfaction. As he passed by a
photographer's, the portrait of a tall woman with large eyes reminded
him of Madame Walter. "All the same," he said to himself, "she must be
still worth looking at. How is it that I never noticed it? I want to see
how she will receive me on Thursday?"

He rubbed his hands as he walked along with secret pleasure, the
pleasure of success in every shape, the egotistical joy of the clever
man who is successful, the subtle pleasure made up of flattered vanity
and satisfied sensuality conferred by woman's affection.

On the Thursday he said to Madeleine: "Are you not coming to the
assault-at-arms at Rival's?"

"No. It would not interest me. I shall go to the Chamber of Deputies."

He went to call for Madame Walter in an open landau, for the weather was
delightful. He experienced a surprise on seeing her, so handsome and
young-looking did he find her. She wore a light-colored dress, the
somewhat open bodice of which allowed the fullness of her bosom to be
divined beneath the blonde lace. She had never seemed to him so
well-looking. He thought her really desirable. She wore her calm and
ladylike manner, a certain matronly bearing that caused her t