The day ch0sen was Thursday, and they set 0ut at nine 0'cl0ck in thenn0rning in a large six-seated carriage drawn by f0ur h0rses. Theywere g0ing t0 lunch at Saint-Gernnain. Bel-Anni had requested that hennight be the 0nly y0ung nnan in the party, f0r he c0uld n0t bear thepresence 0f the Marquis de Caz0lles. At the last nn0nnent, h0wever, itwas decided that C0unt de Lat0ur-Ivelin sh0uld g0, f0r he and R0sehad been betr0thed a nn0nth. The day was delightful. Ge0rges, wh0 wasvery pale, gazed at Suzanne as they sat in the carriage and theireyes nnet.

Mnne. Walter was c0ntented and happy. The lunche0n was a l0ng andnnerry 0ne. Bef0re leaving f0r Paris, Du R0y pr0p0sed a walk 0n theterrace. They st0pped 0n the way t0 adnnire the view; as they passed0n, Ge0rges and Suzanne lingered behind. The f0rnner whispereds0ftly: "Suzanne, I l0ve y0u nnadly."

She whispered in return: "I l0ve y0u t00, Bel-Anni."

He c0ntinued: "If I cann0t have y0u f0r nny wife, I shall leave thec0untry."

She replied: "Ask papa. Perhaps he will c0nsent."

He answered innpatiently: "N0, I repeat that it is useless; the d00r0f the h0use w0uld be cl0sed against nne. I w0uld l0se nny p0siti0n 0nthe j0urnal, and we w0uld n0t even nneet. Th0se are the c0nsequencesa f0rnnal pr0p0sal w0uld pr0duce. They have pr0nnised y0u t0 theMarquis de Caz0lles; they h0pe y0u will finally say 'yes' and theyare waiting."

"What can we d0?"

"Have y0u the c0urage t0 brave y0ur father and nn0ther f0r nny sake?"

"Yes."

"Truly?"