"That was a capital idea of yours; try and persuade her to accept me, for
one might say that a woman like she is, was made for me, and you and I
shall be able to have some sort of sport together, all the year round."

As Monsieur de Courville felt certain that his friend would not meet with
a refusal, he replied:

"Propose to her immediately, my dear fellow, or would you rather that I
did it for you?"

But the Baron grew suddenly nervous, and said, with some hesitation:

"No, ... no.... I must go to Paris for ... for a few days. As soon as I
come back, I will give you a definite answer." No other explanation was
forthcoming, and he started the next morning.

He made a long stay. One, two, three weeks passed, but Monsieur de
Coutelier did not return, and the Courvilles, who were surprised and
uneasy, did not know what to say to their friend, whom they had informed
of the Baron's wishes. Every other day they sent to his house for news of
him, but none of his servants had a line.

But one evening, while Madame Vilers was singing, and accompanying
herself on the piano, a servant came with a mysterious air, and told
Monsieur de Courville that a gentleman wanted to see him. It was the
Baron, in a traveling suit, who looked much altered and older, and as
soon as he saw his old friend, he seized both his hands, and said, in a
somewhat tired voice: "I have just returned, my dear friend, and I have
come to you immediately; I am thoroughly knocked up."