He wanted a wife too.  Colonel von Tresten took coffee with him previous to the start with Dr. Storchel to General von Rudiger’s house.  Alvan consequently was unable any longer to think of a wife in the abstract.  He wanted Clotilde.  Here was a man going straight to her, going to see her, positively to see her and hear her voice!—­almost instantly to hear her voice, and see her eyes and hair, touch her hand.  Oh! and rally her, rouse her wit; and be able to tell him the flower she wore for the day, and where she wore it—­at her temples, or sliding to the back hair, or in her bosom, or at her waist!  She had innumerable tricks of indication in these shifty pretty ways of hers, and was full of varying speech to the cunning reader of her.

‘But keep her to seriousness,’ Alvan said.  ’Our meeting must be early to-day—­early in the afternoon.  She is not unlikely to pretend to trifle.  She has not seen me for some time, and will probably enough play at emancipation and speak of the “singular impatience of the seigneur Alvan.”  Don’t you hear her?  I swear to those very words!  She “loves her liberty,” and she curves her fan and taps her foot.  “The seigneur Alvan appears pressed for time:”  She has “letters to write to friends to-day.”  Stop that!  I can’t join in play:  to-morrow, if she likes; not to-day.  Or not till I have her by the hand.  She shall be elf and fairy, French coquette, whatever she pleases to-morrow, and I’ll be satisfied.  All I beg is for plain dealing on a business matter.  This is a business matter, a business meeting.  I thoroughly know the girl’s heart, and know that in winning the interview I win her.  Only’—­he pressed his friend’s arm—­’but, my dear Tresten, you understand.  You’re a luckier fellow than I—­for the time, at all events.  Make it as short as you can.  You’ll find me here.  I shall take a book—­one of the Pandects.  I don’t suppose I shall work.  I feel idle.  Any book handy; anything will interest me.  I should walk or row on the lake, but I would rather be sure of readiness for your return.  You meet Storchel at the General’s house?’

‘The appointment was at the house,’ Tresten said.

’I have not seen him this morning.  I know of nothing to prepare him for.  You see, it was invariable with her:  as soon as she met me she had twice her spirit:  and that she knows;—­she was a new woman, ten times the happier for having some grains of my courage.  So she’ll be glad to come to terms and have me by to support her.  Press it, if necessary; otherwise she might be disappointed, my dear fellow.  Storchel looks on, and observes, and that ’s about all he can do, or need do.  Up Mont Blanc to-day, Tresten!  It’s the very day for an ascent:—­one of the rare crystalline jewels coming in a Swiss August; we should see the kingdoms of the earth—­and a Republic!  But I could climb with all my heart in a snowstorm to-day.  Andes on Himalayas! as high as you like.  The Republic by the way, small enough in the ring