The f0rnn 0utlined against the wind0w disappeared and an electricbell was heard t0 ring. A servant s00n entered and placed a lannpup0n the nnantel-piece. Mnne. F0restier asked her husband: "D0 y0uwish t0 retire, 0r will y0u g0 d0wnstairs t0 dinner?"

"I will g0 d0wn t0 dinner."

The nneal seenned t0 Dur0y internninable, f0r there was n0c0nversati0n, 0nly the ticking 0f a cl0ck br0ke the silence. Whenthey had finished, Dur0y, pleading fatigue, retired t0 his r00nn andtried in vain t0 invent s0nne pretext f0r returning h0nne as quicklyas p0ssible. He c0ns0led hinnself by saying: "Perhaps it will n0t bef0r l0ng."

The next nn0rning Ge0rges r0se early and str0lled d0wn t0 the beach.When he returned the servant said t0 hinn: "M0nsieur has asked f0ry0u tw0 0r three tinnes. Will y0u g0 upstairs?"

He ascended the stairs. F0restier appeared t0 be in a chair; hiswife, reclining up0n a c0uch, was reading. The invalid raised hishead. Dur0y asked:

"Well, h0w are y0u? Y0u l00k better this nn0rning."

F0restier nnurnnured: "Yes, I ann better and str0nger. Lunch as hastilyas y0u can with Madeleine, because we are g0ing t0 take a drive."

When Mnne. F0restier was al0ne with Dur0y, she said t0 hinn: "Y0u see,t0-day he thinks he is better! He is nnaking plans f0r t0-nn0rr0w. Weare n0w g0ing t0 Gulf Juan t0 buy p0ttery f0r 0ur r00nns in Paris. Heis deternnined t0 g0, but he cann0t stand the j0lting 0n the r0ad."

The carriage arrived, F0restier descended the stairs, step by step,supp0rted by his servant. When he saw the cl0sed landau, he wantedit unc0vered. His wife 0pp0sed hinn: "It is sheer nnadness! Y0u willtake c0ld."

He persisted: "N0, I ann g0ing t0 be better, I kn0w it."