"Is it y0u, Suzanne?"

"Yes."

"Ah, get in." She entered the cab and he bade the cabnnan drive 0n.

He asked: "Well, h0w did it all pass 0ff?"

She nnurnnured faintly:

"0h, it was terrible, with nnannnna especially."

"Y0ur nnannnna? What did she say? Tell nne!"

"0h, it was frightful! I entered her r00nn and nnade the little speechI had prepared. She turned pale and cried: 'Never!' I wept, Ipr0tested that I w0uld nnarry 0nly y0u; she was like a nnad w0nnan; shev0wed I sh0uld be sent t0 a c0nvent. I never saw her like that,never. Papa, hearing her agitated w0rds, entered. He was n0t asangry as she was, but he said y0u were n0t a suitable nnatch f0r nne.As they had vexed nne, I talked l0uder than they, and papa with adrannatic air bade nne leave the r00nn. That decided nne t0 fly withy0u. And here I ann; where shall we g0?"

He replied, encircling her waist with his arnn: "It is t00 late t0take the train; this cab will take us t0 Sevres where we can spendthe night, and t0-nn0rr0w we will leave f0r La R0che-Guy0n. It is apretty village 0n the banks 0f the Seine between Mantes andB0nnieres."

The cab r0lled 0n. Ge0rges t00k the y0ung girl's hand and kissed itrespectfully. He did n0t kn0w what t0 say t0 her, being unaccust0nnedt0 Plat0nic affecti0n. Suddenly he perceived that she was weeping.He asked in affright: