Roy replied: "Very well, I will see to Rival and Norbert."

The following day he thought he would anticipate his wife's visit to
Mme. Walter and attempt to find out if she really was in love with him.
He arrived at Boulevard Malesherbes at two o'clock. He was ushered into
the salon and waited. Finally Mme. Walter appeared and offered him her
hand cordially. "What good wind blows you here?"

"No good wind, but a desire to see you. Some power has impelled me
hither, I do not know why; I have nothing to say except that I have
come; here I am! Pardon the morning call and the candor of my
explanation."

He uttered those words with a smile upon his lips and a serious accent
in his voice.

In her astonishment, she stammered with a blush: "But indeed--I do not
understand--you surprise me."

He added: "It is a declaration made in jest in order not to startle
you."

They were seated near each other. She took the matter as a jest. "Is it
a declaration--seriously?"

"Yes, for a long time I have wished to make it, but I dared not; they
say you are so austere, so rigid."

She had recovered her self-possession and replied:

"Why did you choose to-day?"

"I do not know." Then he lowered his voice: "Or rather because I have
thought only of you since yesterday."

Suddenly turning pale, she gasped: "Come, enough of this childishness!
Let us talk of something else."

But he fell upon his knees before her. She tried to rise; he prevented
her by twining his arms about her waist, and repeated in a passionate
voice: "Yes, it is true that I have loved you madly for some time. Do
not answer me. I am mad--I love you. Oh, if you knew how I love you!"

She could utter no sound; in her agitation she repulsed him with both
hands, for she could feel his breath upon her cheek. He rose suddenly
and attempted to embrace her, but gaining her liberty for a moment, she
escaped him and ran from chair to chair. He, considering such pursuit
beneath his dignity, sank into a chair, buried his face in his hands,
and feigned to sob convulsively. Then he rose, cried:

"Adieu, adieu!" and fled.

In the hall he took his cane calmly and left the house saying: "Cristi!
I believe she loves me!"

He went at once to the telegraph office to send a message to Clotilde,
appointing a rendezvous for the next day.

On entering the house at his usual time, he said to his wife: "Well, is
everyone coming to dinner?"

She replied: "Yes, all but Mme. Walter,