He remembered how flattered he had been to have won within so short a time the affection of this great lady.  The thing had given him a sense of importance that had endured for months thereafter, finally to fade into oblivion.

But all was vividly remembered now upon beholding her again, after sixteen years, profoundly changed and matured, the girl — for she had been no more in those old days — sunk in this worldly woman with the air of calm dignity and complete self-possession.  Yet, he insisted, he must have known her anywhere again.

Aline embraced her affectionately, and then answering the questioning glance with faintly raised eyebrows that madame was directing towards Aline’s companion —

“This is Andre-Louis,” she said.  “You remember Andre-Louis, madame?”

Madame checked.  Andre-Louis saw the surprise ripple over her face, taking with it some of her colour, leaving her for a moment breathless.

And then the voice — the well-remembered rich, musical voice — richer and deeper now than of yore, repeated his name: 

“Andre-Louis!”

Her manner of uttering it suggested that it awakened memories, memories perhaps of the departed youth with which it was associated.  And she paused a long moment, considering him, a little wide-eyed, what time he bowed before her.

“But of course I remember him,” she said at last, and came towards him, putting out her hand.  He kissed it dutifully, submissively, instinctively.  “And this is what you have grown into?” She appraised him, and he flushed with pride at the satisfaction in her tone.  He seemed to have gone back sixteen years, and to be again the little Breton lad at Gavrillac.  She turned to Aline.  “How mistaken Quintin was in his assumptions.  He was pleased to see him again, was he not?”

“So pleased, madame, that he has shown me the door,” said Andre-Louis.

“Ah!” She frowned, conning him still with those dark, wistful eyes of hers.  “We must change that, Aline.  He is of course very angry with you.  But it is not the way to make converts.  I will plead for you, Andre-Louis.  I am a good advocate.”

He thanked her and took his leave.

“I leave my case in your hands with gratitude.  My homage, madame.”

And so it happened that in spite of his godfather’s forbidding reception of him, the fragment of a song was on his lips as his yellow chaise whirled him back to Paris and the Rue du Hasard.  That meeting with Mme. de Plougastel had enheartened him; her promise to plead his case in alliance with Aline gave him assurance that all would be well.

That he was justified of this was proved when on the following Thursday towards noon his academy was invaded by M. de Kercadiou.  Gilles, the boy, brought him word of it, and breaking off at once the lesson upon which he was engaged, he pulled off his mask, and went as he was — in a chamois waistcoat buttoned to the chin and with his foil under his arm to the modest salon below, where his godfather awaited him.