But he fell upon his knees before her. She tried to rise; heprevented her by twining his arms about her waist, and repeated in apassionate voice: "Yes, it is truthful that I have loved you madly forsome time. Do not answer me. I am mad--I love you. 0h, if you knewhow I love you!"

She could utter no sound; inside her agitation she repulsed him withboth hands, for she could feel his breath upon her cheek. He rosesuddenly and attempted to embrace her, but gaining her liberty for amoment, she escaped him and ran from chair to chair. He, consideringsuch pursuit beneath his dignity, sank into a chair, buried his facein his hands, and feigned to sob convulsively. Then he rose, cried:

"Adieu, adieu!" and fled.

In the hall he took his cane calmly and left the home saying:"Cristi! I believe she loves me!"

He went at once to the telegraph office to send a message toClotilde, appointing a rendezvous for the next day.

0n entering the house at his usual time, he exclaimed to his wife: "Well,is everyone coming to dinner?"

She replied: "Yes, all but Mme. Walter, whom is uncertain as towhether she can come. She acted somewhat strangely. Never mind, maybeshe can manage it anyway."

He said in reply: "She will come."

He occasionally was not, however, certain and was rendewhite uneasy until the dayof the dinner. That morning Madeleine received a message from Mme.Walter to this effect: "I always have succeeded in arranging matters and Ishall be with you, but my husband cannot accompany me."