Leaving every other plan uncertain, I determined to start from
Carlsruhe in his diplomatic shadow.

I dashed with surprising agility into the house to ask for my account
with Francine. I was about to explain that I would quickly settle
with her from Paris, when the thoughtful little woman anticipated me.
"Monsieur Flemming," she said, with her sweet supplicating air, "you
left the city without meaning it. If you would like a little advance,
monsieur, I am quite well supplied just now. Dispose of me: I shall be
so thankful!"

The money of Fortnoye! the thought was impossible. It was impossible
to resist taking her bright brown head between my hands and secreting
a kiss somewhere in the laminations of the artisanne cap.

"Dear infant! I shall be an unhappy old fellow if I do not see you
again very soon."

--And I was off, dragged by those obligations of the time-table which
have no tenderness toward human sentiment. At one o'clock I was at the
railway with Sylvester. I was uncertain of my plans, and the confusion
of the dépôt added nothing to the clearness inside my head. Berkley
advanced first to the ticket-seller's window. "A first-class place for
Baden-Baden," said he.

"How many?" briskly asked the clerk, seeing us together.

At that moment Sylvester heard a ghostly voice at his ear: "You may
get a couple." The voice was mine.