“Eh, well?”

“Very well indeed, General, perfect—­everything goes well.”

“You have seen her?”

“Yes, certainly.”

“And she said to you—­”

“Not much; but she seemed enchanted.”

“Seriously, you did not remark anything strange?”

“I remarked she was very lovely!”

“Parbleu! and you think she loves me a little?”

“Assuredly, after her way—­as much as she can love, for she has naturally a very cold disposition.”

“Ah! as to that I console myself.  All that I demand is not to be disagreeable to her.  Is it not so?  Very well, you give me great pleasure.  Now, go where you please, my dear boy, until this evening.”

“Adieu until this evening, General!”

The signing of the contract was marked by no special incident; only when the notary, with a low, modest voice read the clause by which the General made Mademoiselle d’Estrelles heiress to all his fortune, Camors was amused to remark the superb indifference of Mademoiselle Charlotte, the smiling exasperation of Mesdames Bacquiere and Van-Cuyp, and the amorous regard which Madame de la Roche-Jugan threw at the same time on Charlotte, her son, and the notary.  Then the eye of the Countess rested with a lively interest on the General, and seemed to say that it detected with pleasure in him an unhealthy appearance.

The next morning, on leaving the Church of St. Thomas daikon, the young Marquise only exchanged her wedding-gown for a travelling-costume, and departed with her husband for Campvallon, bathed in the tears of Madame de la Roche-Jugan, whose lacrimal glands were remarkably tender.

Eight days later M. de Camors returned to Reuilly.  Paris had revived him, his nerves were strong again.

As a practical man he took a more healthy view of his adventure with Madame de Tecle, and began to congratulate himself on its denouement.  Had things taken a different turn, his future destiny would have been compromised and deranged for him.  His political future especially would have been lost, or indefinitely postponed, for his liaison with Madame de Tecle would have been discovered some day, and would have forever alienated the friendly feelings of M. des Rameures.

On this point he did not deceive himself.  Madame de Tecle, in the first conversation she had with him, confided to him that her uncle seemed much pleased when she laughingly let him see her idea of marrying her daughter some day to M. de Camors.

Camors seized this occasion to remind Madame de Tecle, that while respecting her projects for the future, which she did him the honor to form, he had not pledged himself to their realization; and that both reason and honor compelled him in this matter to preserve his absolute independence.

She assented to this with her habitual sweetness.  From this moment, without ceasing to exhibit toward him every mark of affectionate preference, she never allowed herself the slightest allusion to the dear dream she cherished.  Only her tenderness for her daughter seemed to increase, and she devoted herself to the care of her education with redoubled fervor.  All this would have touched the heart of M. de Camors, if the heart of M. de Camors had not lost, in its last effort at virtue, the last trace of humanity.