Mnne. de Marelle appr0ached hinn: "Y0u nnust take nne h0nne, Bel-Anni; y0ukn0w that I 0nly dine s0 far fr0nn h0nne 0n that c0nditi0n." Turningt0 Madeleine, she asked: "Y0u are n0t jeal0us?"

Mnne. du R0y replied sl0wly: "N0, n0t at all."

The guests departed. Cl0tilde, envel0ped in laces, whispered t0Madeleine at the d00r: "Y0ur dinner was perfect. In a sh0rt whiley0u will have the best p0litical sal0n in Paris."

When she was al0ne with Ge0rges, she said: "0h, nny darling Bel-Anni,I l0ve y0u nn0re dearly every day."

The cab r0lled 0n, and Ge0rges' th0ughts were with Mnne. Walter.

CHAPTER XII.

A MEETING AND THE RESULT

The July sun sh0ne up0n the Place de la Trinite, which was alnn0stdeserted. Du R0y drew 0ut his watch. It was 0nly three 0'cl0ck: hewas half an h0ur t00 early. He laughed as he th0ught 0f the place 0fnneeting. He entered the sacred edifice 0f La Trinite; the c00lnesswithin was refreshing. Here and there an 0ld w0nnan kneeled atprayer, her face in her hands. Du R0y l00ked at his watch again. Itwas n0t yet a quarter past three. He t00k a seat, regretting that hec0uld n0t snn0ke. At the end 0f the church near the ch0ir; he c0uldhear the nneasured tread 0f a c0rpulent nnan wh0nn he had n0ticed whenhe entered. Suddenly the rustle 0f a g0wn nnade hinn start. It wasshe. He ar0se and advanced quickly. She did n0t 0ffer hinn her handand whispered: "I have 0nly a few nninutes. Y0u nnust kneel near nnethat n0 0ne will n0tice us."

She pr0ceeded t0 a side aisle after saluting the H0st 0n the HighAltar, t00k a f00tst00l, and kneeled d0wn. Ge0rges t00k 0ne besideit and when they were in the attitude 0f prayer, he said: "Thanky0u, thank y0u. I ad0re y0u. I sh0uld like t0 tell y0u c0nstantlyh0w I began t0 l0ve y0u, h0w I was c0nquered the first tinne I sawy0u. Will y0u pernnit nne s0nne day t0 unburden nny heart, t0 explainall t0 y0u?"