Next morning, Rose came in by herself to ask me for a cake of chocolate, for, as she said, Le Duc was now ill in real earnest.  She brought me the box, and I gave her the chocolate, and in doing so I took her hand and shewed her how well I loved her.  She was offended, drew back her hand sharply, and left the room.  A moment after Manon came in under the pretext of shewing me a piece of lace I had torn away in my attempts of the day before, and of asking me if she should mend it.  I took her hand to kiss it, but she did not give me time, presenting her lips, burning with desire.  I took her hand again, and it was just on the spot when the cousin came in.  Manon held the piece of lace, and seemed to be waiting for my answer.  I told her absently that I should be obliged if she would mend it when she had time, and with this she went out.

I was troubled by this succession of disasters, and thought that the cousin would not play me false from the earnest of her affection which she had given me the day before in that ardent kiss of hers.  I begged her to give me my handkerchief, and gently drew her hand towards me.  Her mouth fastened to mine, and her hand, which she left to my pleasure with all the gentleness of a lamb, was already in motion when Rose came in with my chocolate.  We regained our composure in a moment, but I was furious at heart.  I scowled at Rose, and I had a right to do so after the manner in which she had repulsed me a quarter of an hour before.  Though the chocolate was excellent, I pronounced it badly made.  I chid her for her awkwardness in waiting on me, and repulsed her at every step.  When I got up I would not let her shave me; I shaved myself, which seemed to humiliate her, and then Manon did my hair.  Rose and the cousin then went out, as if to make common cause together, but it was easy to see that Rose was less angry with her sister than her cousin.

As Manon was finishing my toilette, M. de Valenglard came in.  As soon as we were alone, the officer, who was a man of honour and of much sense, in spite of his belief in astrology and the occult sciences, said that he thought me looking rather melancholy, and that if my sadness had any connection with the fair Roman, he warned me to think no more of her, unless I had resolved to ask her hand in marriage.  I replied that to put an end to all difficulties I had decided on leaving Grenoble in a few days.  We dined together and we then called on Madame Morin, with whom we found her fair niece.

Madame Morin gave me a flattering welcome, and Mdlle.  Roman received me so graciously that I was emboldened to kiss her and place her on my knee.  The aunt laughed, the niece blushed, and then slipping into my hand a little piece of paper made her escape.  I read on the paper the year, day, Hour, and minute of her birth, and guessed what she meant.  She meant, I thought, that I could do nothing with her before I had drawn up her horoscope.  My resolve was soon taken to profit by this circumstance, and I told her that I would tell her whether I could oblige her or not next day, if she would come to a ball I was giving.  She looked at her aunt and my invitation was accepted.