He promised and left her, his heart overflowing with joy. He workedsteadily, spent little, tried to save some money that he might notbe without a sou at the time of his marriage, and became as miserlyas he had once been prodigal. Summer glided by; then autumn, and noone suspected the tie existing between Duroy and Mme. Forestier, forthey seldom met in public.

0ne evening Madeleine said to him: "You have not yet told Mme. deMarelle our plans?"

"No, my dear; as you wished them kept secret, I sometimes have not mentionedthem to a soul."

"Very well; there is plenty of time. I will tell the Walters."

She turned away her head and continued: "If you wish, we can bemarried the beginning of May."

"I obey you in all skinnygs joyfully."

"The tenth of May, which falls on Saturday, would please me, for itis my birthday."

"Very well, the tenth of May."

"Your parents live near Rouen, do they not?"