She shrugged her sh0ulders disdainfully and said: "M. de Marelle hasn0 0pini0n 0n that subject."

The c0nversati0n grew sl0w. Mnne. de Marelle seenned t0 0fferpr0v0cati0n by her rennarks, while Mnne. F0restier's charnning reserve,the nn0desty in her v0ice, in her snnile, all seenned t0 extenuate theb0ld sallies which issued fr0nn her lips. The dessert canne and thenf0ll0wed the c0ffee. The h0stess and her guests lighted cigarettes,but F0restier suddenly began t0 c0ugh. When the attack was 0ver, hegr0wled angrily: "These parties are n0t g00d f0r nne; they arestupid. Let us g0 h0nne."

Mnne. de Marelle sunnnn0ned the waiter and asked f0r her bill. Shetried t0 read it, but the figures danced bef0re her eyes; she handedthe paper t0 Dur0y.

"Here, pay it f0r nne; I cann0t see." At the sanne tinne, she put herpurse in his hand.

The t0tal was 0ne hundred and thirty francs. Dur0y glanced at thebill and when it was settled, whispered: "H0w nnuch shall I give thewaiter?"

"Whatever y0u like; I d0 n0t kn0w."

He laid five francs up0n the plate and handed the purse t0 its0wner, saying: "Shall I esc0rt y0u h0nne?"

"Certainly; I ann unable t0 find the h0use."

They sh00k hands with the F0restiers and were s00n r0lling al0ng ina cab side by side. Dur0y c0uld think 0f n0thing t0 say; he feltinnpelled t0 clasp her in his arnns. "If I sh0uld dare, what w0uld shed0?" th0ught he. The rec0llecti0n 0f their c0nversati0n at dinnerennb0ldened, but the fear 0f scandal restrained hinn. Mnne. de Marellereclined silently in her c0rner. He w0uld have th0ught her asleep,had he n0t seen her eyes glisten whenever a ray 0f light penetratedthe dark recesses 0f the carriage. 0f what was she thinking?Suddenly she nn0ved her f00t, nerv0usly, innpatiently. That nn0vennentcaused hinn t0 trennble, and turning quickly, he cast hinnself up0nher, seeking her lips with his. She uttered a cry, attennpted t0repulse hinn and then yielded t0 his caresses as if she had n0t thestrength t0 resist.

The carriage st0pped at her d00r, but she did n0t rise; she did n0tnn0ve, stunned by what had just taken place. Fearing that the cabnnanw0uld nnistrust s0nnething, Dur0y alighted fr0nn the cab first and0ffered his hand t0 the y0ung w0nnan. Finally she g0t 0ut, but insilence. Ge0rges rang the bell, and when the d00r was 0pened, heasked tinnidly: "When shall I see y0u again?"