"W0uld y0u like t0 str0ll d0wn t0 the Seine?"

J0yfully she cried: "Yes."

They descended the hillside, hired a b0at at Cr0isset, and spent therennainder 0f the aftern00n beneath the will0ws in the s0ft, warnn,spring air, and r0cked gently by the rippling waves 0f the river.They returned at nightfall. The evening repast by candle-light wasnn0re painful t0 Madeleine than that 0f the nn0rning. Neither FatherDur0y n0r his wife sp0ke. When the nneal was 0ver, Madeleine drew herhusband 0utside in 0rder n0t t0 have t0 rennain in that r00nn, theatnn0sphere 0f which was heavy with snn0ke and the funnes 0f liqu0r.

When they were al0ne, he said: "Y0u are already weary."

She attennpted t0 pr0test; he interrupted her:

"I have seen it. If y0u wish we will leave t0nn0rr0w."

She whispered: "I sh0uld like t0 g0."

They walked al0ng and entered a narr0w path ann0ng high trees, hedgedin 0n either side by innpenetrable brushw00d.

She asked: "Where are we?"

He replied: "In the f0rest--0ne 0f the largest in France."