“I do not want anything—–­thank you.”

He got out and walked up and down the platform a little in order to recover himself, and, as it were, to recover his senses after a fall.  What should he do now?  If he got into another carriage it would look as if he were running away.  Should he be polite or importunate?  That would look as if he were asking for forgiveness.  Should he speak as if he were her master?  He would look like a fool, and, besides, he really had no right to do so.

He got in again and took his place.

During his absence she had hastily arranged her dress and hair, and was now lying stretched out on the seat, radiant, and without showing any emotion.

He turned to her, and said:  “My dear Bertha, since this singular chance has brought up together after a separation of six years—­a quite friendly separation—­are we to continue to look upon each other as irreconcilable enemies?  We are shut up together, tete-a-tete, which is so much the better or so much the worse.  I am not going to get into another carriage, so don’t you think it is preferable to talk as friends till the end of our journey?”

She answered, quite calmly again: 

“Just as you please.”

Then he suddenly stopped, really not knowing what to say; but as he had plenty of assurance, he sat down on the middle seat, and said: 

“Well, I see I must pay my court to you; so much the better.  It is, however, really a pleasure, for you are charming.  You cannot imagine how you have improved in the last six years.  I do not know any woman who could give me that delightful sensation which I experienced just now when you emerged from your wraps.  I really could not have thought such a change possible.”

Without moving her head or looking at him, she said:  “I cannot say the same with regard to you; you have certainly deteriorated a great deal.”

He got red and confused, and then, with a smile of resignation, he said: 

“You are rather hard.”

“Why?” was her reply.  “I am only stating facts.  I don’t suppose you intend to offer me your love?  It must, therefore, be a matter of perfect indifference to you what I think about you.  But I see it is a painful subject, so let us talk of something else.  What have you been doing since I last saw you?”

He felt rather out of countenance, and stammered: 

“I?  I have travelled, done some shooting, and grown old, as you see.  And you?”

She said, quite calmly:  “I have taken care of appearances, as you ordered me.”

He was very nearly saying something brutal, but he checked himself; and kissed his wife’s hand: 

“And I thank you,” he said.

She was surprised.  He was indeed diplomatic, and always master of himself.

He went on:  “As you have acceded to my first request, shall we now talk without any bitterness?”

She made a little movement of surprise.