While the doctor and Pauline were expostulating with him on the rarity of his visits, Juliette bent down and whispered to Helene, who, despite her supreme indifference, was overcome with astonishment: 

“Ah! you are surprised?  Dear me!  I am not angry with him at all! he’s such a good fellow at heart that nobody could long be angry with him!  Just fancy! he has unearthed a husband for Pauline.  It’s splendid, isn’t it?”

“Oh! no doubt,” answered Helene complaisantly.

“Yes, one of his friends, immensely rich, who did not think of getting married, but whom he has sworn to bring here!  We were waiting for him to-day to have some definite reply.  So, as you will understand, I had to pass over a lot of things.  Oh! there’s no danger now; we know one another thoroughly.”

Her face beamed with a pretty smile, and she blushed slightly at the memories she conjured up; but she soon turned round and took possession of Malignon.  Helene likewise smiled.  These accommodating circumstances in life seemed to her sufficient excuse for her own delinquencies.  It was absurd to think of tragic melodramas; no, everything wound up with universal happiness.  However, while she had thus been indulging in the cowardly, but pleasing, thought that nothing was absolutely indefensible, Juliette and Pauline had opened the door of the pavilion, and were now dragging Malignon in their train into the garden.  And, all at once, Helene heard Henri speaking to her in a low and passionate voice: 

“I beseech you, Helene!  Oh!  I beseech you—­”

She started to her feet, and gazed around her with sudden anxiety.  They were quite alone; she could see the three others walking slowly along one of the walks.  Henri was bold enough to lay his hand on her shoulder, and she trembled as she felt its pressure.

“As you wish,” she stammered, knowing full well what question it was that he desired to ask.

Then, hurriedly, they exchanged a few words.

“At the house in the Passage des Eaux,” said he.

“No, it is impossible—­I have explained to you, and you swore to me—­”

“Well, wherever you like, so that I may see you!  In your own house —­this evening.  Shall I call?”

The idea was repellant to her.  But she could only refuse with a sign, for fear again came upon her as she observed the two ladies and Malignon returning.  Madame Deberle had taken the young man away under pretext of showing him some clumps of violets which were in full blossom notwithstanding the cold weather.  Hastening her steps, she entered the pavilion before the others, her face illumined by a smile.

“It’s all arranged,” she exclaimed.

“What’s all arranged?” asked Helene, who was still trembling with excitement and had forgotten everything.

“Oh, that marriage!  What a riddance!  Pauline was getting a bit of a nuisance.  However, the young man has seen her and thinks her charming!  To-morrow we’re all going to dine with papa.  I could have embraced Malignon for his good news!”