As Madeleine fled before the storm and found shelter in her kitchen, my uncle smoothed back his white hair with both his hands—­a surviving touch of personal vanity—­and started down the walk around the grass-plot.

I effaced myself behind the trees.  M. Charnot, thinking I was just behind him, stepped forward with airy freedom.

My uncle came down the path with a distracted air, like a man overwhelmed with business, only too pleased to snatch a moment’s leisure between the parting and the coming client.  He always loved to pass for being overwhelmed with work.

On his way he flipped a rosebud covered with blight, kicked off a snail which was crawling on the path; then, halfway down the path, he suddenly raised his head and gave a look at his disturber.

His bent brows grew smooth, his eyes round with the stress of surprise.

“Is it possible?  Monsieur Charnot of the Institute!”

“The same, Monsieur Mouillard.”

“And this is Mademoiselle Jeanne?”

“Just so; she has come with me to repay your kind visit.”

“Really, that’s too good of you, much too good, to come such a way to see me!”

“On the contrary, the most natural thing in the world, considering what the young people are about.”

“Oh! is your daughter about to be married?”

“Certainly, that’s the idea,” said M. Charnot, with a laugh.

“I congratulate you, Mademoiselle!”

“I have brought her here to introduce her to you, Monsieur Mouillard, as is only right.”

“Right!  Excuse me, no.”

“Indeed it is.”

“Excuse me, sir.  Politeness is all very well in its way, but frankness is better.  I went to Paris chiefly to get certain information which you were good enough to give me.  But, really, it was not worth your while to come from Paris to Bourges to thank me, and to bring your daughter too.”

“Excuse me in my turn!  There are limits to modesty, Monsieur Mouillard, and as my daughter is to marry your nephew, and as my daughter was in Bourges, it was only natural that I should introduce her to you.”

“Monsieur, I have no longer a nephew.”

“He is here.”

“And I never asked for your daughter.”

“No, but you have received your nephew beneath your roof, and consequently—­”

“Never!”

“Monsieur Fabien has been in your house since yesterday; he told you we were coming.”

“No, I have not seen him; I never should have received him!  I tell you I no longer have a nephew!  I am a broken man, a—­a—­a—­”

His speech failed him, his face became purple, he staggered and fell heavily, first in a sitting posture, then on his back, and lay motionless on the sanded path.

I rushed to the rescue.

When I got up to him Jeanne had already returned from the little fountain with her handkerchief dripping, and was bathing his temples with fresh water.  She was the only one who kept her wits about her.  Madeleine had raised her master’s head and was wailing aloud.